Page 526 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 17 February 2016
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policy to do that in relation to voluntary euthanasia. In regard to end-of-life issues there would be a conscience vote.
However, this motion is not about introducing voluntary euthanasia or assisted suicide; it is about reporting to members on the healthy conversations that Mr Rattenbury referred to that I was able to achieve through my forums with people who held many and varied views on issues surrounding dying and on what they believe they need in the way of support and resources. It is about informing this place of what these people, who represent a broad section of our community, wanted this place to hear.
I thank those people who gave their time and shared in the process, and also worked together to make recommendations. It is not about what I want, Mr Hanson—through you, Madam Assistant Speaker—or what other members on this side might want; it is about people calling on us to continue to extend and improve palliative care services. At the moment they are excellent services, but we know that demand will grow. It is about making advance care directives easier to use, better understood and more accessible to health professionals. Also, people asked for research to be commissioned so that the community is better informed about services for the dying and what is available to support the dying here.
People who participated in the forums also wanted to know what this place can do in relation to the Andrews bill and its impediment to pursuing options such as voluntary euthanasia or assisted suicide in the ACT. As can be seen, it is not about me—and I am sure the opposition really does not think that.
I thank Mr Corbell for his comments and his commitment to the continued improvement of appropriate palliative care services in particular settings for persons, their families and their health professionals. I would also like to record my thanks to all the health professionals who work in our acute healthcare and chronic healthcare settings for their care and support of those on their life journey as they reach the end of that journey.
I would like to thank the staff of Clare Holland House and all volunteers in whatever settings, in whichever medical facility or non-medical facility they work, where they support people on this journey. I thank the attorney for his work on advance care directives and on power of attorney. I would also like to thank Ms Burch for her support and for her offer to continue to foster these conversations.
I thank Mr Rattenbury for his support, particularly the call that he has made to allow this place to be able to vote on end-of-life issues, and to remove the impediment of the Andrews bill. I agree with Mr Corbell in relation to debating choices about the manner of dying. People should be able to discuss and debate this matter in this place, and we do need to be properly informed. Any legislation that is introduced in this area does need to be given careful consideration, and all the implications and safeguards need to be examined. It is particularly important that those with diminished ability of any nature are assured that any such legislation will protect them at all times, as I have observed is the case with voluntary euthanasia legislation in the Netherlands and Belgium.
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