Culture

Tony Abbott May Have Just Committed To A Conscience Vote On Voluntary Euthanasia

In fact, he's promised it to a dying man.

by Meg Watson  20 December 2014

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Because this week hasn’t already been packed full of enough Major News, Tony Abbott has just come out of nowhere and reopened the debate on voluntary euthanasia. In a lengthy conversation with terminally ill cancer patient and Dying With Dignity campaigner Peter Short, the Prime Minister has not only offered his sympathy and support, but reportedly promised a Liberal Party conscience vote on the matter.

Hopefully this promise — one made earnestly to a dying man — is one he won’t break.

“Today I had what I feel was one of the most worthwhile chats to bring choice at end of life for the terminally ill and intolerably suffering,” wrote Short in a blog post yesterday. “The Prime Minister devoted a quality half hour to understanding my point of view, asking questions to further his knowledge, empathising with my personal circumstance and laying a few of his cards squarely and quite rightly on the table.”

Most importantly, he specifically stated that if Greens Senator Richard Di Natale’s Medical Services (Dying With Dignity) Bill reached the Senate, he will allow a free vote on the issue. The bill which is still being developed would allow adults with a terminal illness to seek medical assistance to end their lives after consultation with two doctors and a psychiatrist. Last month a federal parliamentary committee recommended a conscience vote on the bill and Sen Di Natale even appealed to Abbott directly.

A spokesperson for the PM confirmed the conversation to Fairfax this morning stating he had “a warm and lengthy conversation with Mr Short … but the PM has a standard policy of not talking about the content of private conversations”. In Mr Short’s recollection of the conversation, he states that “the Prime Minister is happy to be quoted”.

So Why Is This Even Happening?

For those who have been following the issue this may seem confusing. Abbott has a long history in opposing legislation on euthanasia, especially in his time as Federal Health Minister. Look, here’s a video of him literally arguing against it.

But that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t give his MPs the right to choose (for lack of a better phrase). “I feel that though the Prime Minister will never be an advocate for the Di Natalie bill he will not stand in the way of democratic processes to let it run its course,” said Mr Short. “At present DWD law change is not part of [the] agenda, unless public and parliamentarian opinion makes it so.”

Polls in recent years have found that between 75-85 percent of Australians support legislation on voluntary euthanasia. Oddly enough, it’s about the same kind of numbers that now support same sex marriage.

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You can read more about the Dying With Dignity campaign here. Peter Short has also started a petition to further lobby the Prime Minister which you can check out here.