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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 11 Hansard (5 November) . . Page.. 3668 ..

MR SPEAKER: Order! It being 5.00 pm, I propose the question:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

Mr Humphries: I require the question to be put forthwith without debate.

Question resolved in the negative.

[COGNATE BILLS:

Debate resumed.

MR STEFANIAK: That would mean, if I read it correctly, that when a person's condition improves, at present that person would need, if they got another condition, to then give another direction because the original direction would cease. I would think that is a very sensible measure. I would think withdrawing that again extends the boundaries; it again takes us further along the line of what Mr Moore is basically aiming at, which is voluntary active euthanasia. Whilst I commend him for his persistence in relation to it, I have consistently said on a number of occasions in this house, dating back many years, that it is something I am not prepared to support. So, I do have those grave considerations in relation to the Medical Treatment (Amendment) Bill as well.

MR MOORE (5.02), in reply: Mr Speaker, I think I will just get the unpleasant side of the debate out of the way first. Mr Berry accused us in his own way, and he did so publicly, of thrashing around. My thrashing around is somewhat minor compared to the twisting and turning that he has done; so much so that he has twisted himself up because of his own form of opportunism. It is the very same Mr Berry who in November 1995, with reference to the legislation on voluntary active euthanasia, said:

... I think if I were to oppose this legislation the people who elected me could rightfully accuse me of treachery.

I imagine the people in the Voluntary Euthanasia Society will do that very thing. In fact, at a meeting here in the reception room in this Assembly Mr Berry was offered an award for his ability to say one thing and do the opposite.

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