New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet has spoken out against a proposed assisted suicide bill in the Australian state that would “open a door that no one can close”. SPUC has commended Perrottet’s “principled” leadership and his “conscientious” stand against this “dangerous” bill.
Premier Perrottet, a professed pro-lifer, recently became the 46th Premier of New South Wales, as reported by SPUC last month.
Opening the debate on assisted suicide, Perrottet voiced his opposition to the bill in parliament, warning that the legalisation of assisted suicide would “cross a line”.
“Make no mistake, this is a culture-changing decision”, he said. “Once we accept the principle of this bill… nothing will be the same, as we will have started to define the value of a life.”
He continued: “This debate is fundamentally about how we treat that precious thing called human life.
“Our answer to that question defines what kind of society we will be. This bill, at its heart, enshrines a new principle: that we can intentionally help terminate the life of certain people to end their suffering.”
NSW, a last bastion
The assisted dying bill, sponsored by Alex Greenwich, an independent MP, has 28 other co-sponsors from various parties in NSW.
The bill, if passed into law, would permit assisted suicide for persons with a terminal illness who have a life expectancy of less than six months, or, if suffering from an unbearable neurodegenerative condition, 12 months.
NSW is the only remaining Australian state not to have legalised assisted suicide. A similar bill was defeated in NSW in 2017, as reported by SPUC.
Not an “abstract” issue
Premier Perrottet, in opposing the bill, has split with several senior NSW MPs, who have been granted a free “conscience” vote.
In his speech to parliament, Perrottet emphasised the need for better palliative care, “the best palliative care, not just in the nation but in the world”, committing himself to increasing funding.
“We have failed to deliver that care and as the former treasurer, I take responsibility for that. Let me be clear: I failed in my former capacity as treasurer to address this issue, but as premier, I will fix it… the buck stops here.”
Perrottet also mentioned the death of his grandmother in hospital last week, pointing out that he knew how emotive the issue was.
“I sat next to her, holding her hand. I could tell that she was in great pain and that she wanted it to be over”, he explained. “I got a sense, as much as anyone can have, why those in such pain would want to end it quickly. So, this debate is not abstract for me.”
“The soul of society” is at stake
SPUC’s Michael Robinson, Executive Director (Public Affairs & Legal Services), said: “Premier Perrottet appears to be a principled, conscientious and meaningfully pro-life politician who understands the ‘culture-changing’ consequences of assisted suicide.
“Assisted suicide does, indeed, cross a line, a line that no civilised nation or state wanting to protect the elderly, ill and vulnerable should cross.
“Here in the UK, SPUC has mobilised itself and its supporters against two similarly dangerous bills that seek to impose assisted suicide on the vulnerable.
“Just last month, the ‘complacent’ House of Lords allowed a ‘dangerous’ assisted suicide bill to move forward unopposed. Meanwhile, in Scotland a consultation on another proposed Assisted Suicide Bill is ongoing. We urge our supporters to respond to the consultation.
“SPUC hopes that Premier Perrottet’s leadership, as well as our own, will prevail on this vital issue. It is not only lives that are at stake here, but also the soul of society.
“We must protect the vulnerable.”
Take action
Please respond to the consultation on the proposed Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adult (Scotland) Bill. Information and assistance, including a SPUC briefing, on how to respond can be found by clicking here.
Thank you.