A Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill (NSW) 2021 (VAD) is set to be introduced by Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich as soon as October 14.
The change in premier has given advocates some cause for optimism聽since聽former Premier Gladys Berejiklian said聽she would not allow a conscience vote on VAD after聽the dragged-out decriminalisation of the abortion debate.
While the church hierarchy and far-right of the Liberals have long opposed abortion and voluntary assisted dying, VAD has nearly 80% public support, including from the majority of those聽identifying as Christian.
Vice President of Dying with Dignity NSW Shayne Higson told 91自拍论坛 that the new Premier could be good news for VAD. , a devout Catholic, has said he will allow a conscience vote on bill.
While this is yet to be confirmed by the Liberals,聽Higson said advocates are keeping up the pressure. The Nationals change of leadership, following the resignation of John Barilaro, is not so concerning,聽she said, because that party has always taken a 鈥渃ommon sense approach鈥 to VAD. 鈥淭here is strong support for VAD from the Nationals.鈥
When聽Greenwich finally introduces the VAD bill, it will likely be the last stop on a very long road for advocates, supporters and most importantly, terminally-ill people seeking the same rights as all the other states. Greenwich has worked hard to secure cross party support for the bill, Higson said.
These rights include the right to alleviate their own terminal, unbelievable suffering, voluntarily, legally and at a time and place of their choosing.
Higson said she had been fighting for VAD to become law for nine years, since her own Mum died a terrible death of brain cancer.聽Many people聽like her, as part of Dying with Dignity, Go Gentle, and others, have been fighting for decades to uphold the basic human right to your own humane death.
Higson hopes the bill will be passed before Christmas, allowing hard-working advocates to see the people鈥檚 will prevail.