RECENTLY, voluntary assisted dying was legalised in NSW. I believe this law change is long overdue.
It provides a sensible and humane way to allow terminally ill patients to end their suffering with dignity, with plenty of safeguards in place.
A survey by Vote Compass indicated 81 per cent of people in the Murray electorate supported this change. I’m here to represent their views.
That’s why I co-sponsored independent MP Alex Greenwich’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill, which passed NSW Parliament to become law last month.
The challenge is to make sure the new laws are accessible for regional residents.
One safeguard in place within the legislation is that eligibility for euthanasia must be signed off by two doctors. In small towns, it’s hard enough to find one.
The NSW Government must address our chronic GP shortage and significantly increase palliative care funding in regional areas.
In 2019, abortion was decriminalised in NSW. But there is still nowhere in the Murray electorate – an area of 107,000sq km – when a woman can access pregnancy termination services. Passing laws doesn’t mean much if there’s no funding for people to exercise their rights.
I believe it was hypocritical of Mr Perrottet to oppose the new euthanasia laws. The Premier told Parliament: “The answer to suffering is to not offer death but care, comfort and compassion.” But the government is not offering any care, comfort and compassion to rural patients.
Balranald cancer patients are having to wait up to eight weeks for lifesaving cancer treatment. The Premier needs to fight as hard for sick people trying to stay alive as he did to stop voluntary assisted dying.
