The Advertiser, Adelaide
TUE 28 JUN 2005,

THE Criminal Code Amendment (Suicide Related Material Offences) Bill 2005
was passed in federal Parliament last Thursday.

This censorship law is a blatant assault on our right to freedom of
information. It also is absurd as it targets suicide-related information
via the internet and other carriage services when the same information can
be lawfully accessed through non-electronic means such as
books, conversation and regular post. It is draconian legislation we would
expect to find in a dictatorship or theocracy.

It will do nothing to address the real issues driving desperate people to
suicide. It will do nothing to control access to overseas
internet sites.

However, it will severely restrict the advisory and counselling services of
voluntary euthanasia societies and compound the
grievous suffering of many with hopeless illnesses. In this way, it will
indeed drive people to suicide.

FRANCES COOMBE,
President, South Australian
Voluntary Euthanasia Society. 

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