Page 2902 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 September 1994
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dictionaries over the years to suggest that we are animals rather than spirit. But if you study every great religion that has existed on this planet - and there are many - you find that in every case they acknowledge that man is a spiritual entity, not just a body and not just a mind.
I believe that the will to live is so strong with people that they decide that they want to stay and fight on. When do they decide that? They might not decide that when they are 18, 20, 30, 40 or 50. They may think at that time, they may even make a logical decision when they are of sound mind, that if they were old and were a burden on their family, a burden on society, perhaps could not do the things that they may have wanted to do when they were younger, and had the option of being given medical treatment - and that is a wide, expansive area - they would rather not have that medical treatment so that they could die. However, when the situation comes, you might find that that will to live is so strong that that is not their decision any more. I believe that the strongest drive in mankind is the will to live.
Mr Moore: Did you poll on this issue?
MR STEVENSON: Mr Moore asked whether I polled on the issue. There is one thing I will mention because much was said about whether or not the decision came from the people in general. Over the years we have polled thousands of people on various issues, literally dozens of issues - some more than once. At the bottom of the sheet we have a fairly standard question. It is, "Is there any other question or issue that you feel we should take up?". To the best of my recollection, I have never seen any comment about euthanasia.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Stevenson, it is 12.30 pm, so the debate is interrupted in accordance with standing order 77, as amended by temporary order.
Sitting suspended from 12.30 to 2.30 pm
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Drivers Licences - Testing
MRS CARNELL: Madam Speaker, my question is addressed to the Minister for Urban Services. The Minister has indicated that anti-skid training and a first aid certificate will be compulsory requirements for new drivers in the ACT under a new licensing scheme he announced last month. Can the Minister tell the Assembly exactly how much these additional requirements will add not only to the actual cost of a drivers licence but also to the cost of obtaining a drivers licence? Can he also advise exactly where this anti-skid training will be conducted, who will conduct it and how the 9,000 drivers who undergo licence tests every year will be able to be accommodated?
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