by Paul Russell: The latest in a long line of euthanasia bills was debated in the South Australian Parliament today.As I sat at my desk last night to listen to the euthanasia debate in the South Australian Parliament I began to write the words of an email to supporters that I expected to be sending sometime during the night advising them that, for the first time since 1995, we had lost debate on a euthanasia bill in an Australian legislature. Continue reading

by Paul Russell: Points for frankness go to the Victorian Greens this week with party Health Spokeswoman, Colleen Hartland throwing her party's support behind a 'limited', 'minimalist' legislative model for euthanasia. It's apparently not really what they want, but 'they will not scupper euthanasia reform in pursuit of policy purity' according to the report in The Australian.The Premier, Daniel Andrews, is expected to respond in early December to Recommendation 49 of the Legal and Social Issues Committee Report into End-of-Life choices that called for an assisted suicide regime with the option of euthanasia for those unable to kill themselves. Continue reading

by Paul Russell: Dutch journalist, Gerbert van Loenen once observed about euthanasia in his homeland that, 'Making euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide legal started a development we did not foresee. The old limit 'thou shalt not kill' was abandoned, a new limit is yet to be found.'When we abandon the principle that the law (in this case the criminal code prohibitions on homicide) protects all of its citizens equally, as van Loenen observes, drawing a new line is arbitrary. More than that; it is likely to shift further in ways that perhaps the Dutch did not foresee but that we at least, can now reflect upon given their experiences. Continue reading

by Paul Russell: In the wake of the parliamentary debate in South Australia yesterday concerning euthanasia, the South Australian Upper House has referred the matter of Elder Abuse to a select committee of the parliament for an inquiry. (NB: this is an accident of timing only)This comes only a few months after the Parliament of New South Wales received its committee report on the same matter. This new inquiry was prompted, in part at least, by a shocking report of abuse of a nursing home resident by a support worker in Adelaide a few months ago. Continue reading

  by Paul Russell: The Shadow Disability Minister in SA simply doesn't get it. Continue reading

By Paul Russell: Last night the mover of the Voluntary Euthanasia Bill 2016, Steph Key gave a rather cryptic comment to the South Australian media about the possible adoption of their 'plan b'.It is not a stretch to observe that one only goes to a 'plan b' if 'plan a' - the existing bill, is not going to pass muster. Continue reading

by Paul Russell: Today a diverse group of disability activists assembled in the South Australian Parliament to deliver a very clear message to politicians about their concerns with the euthanasia legislation currently under debate.The Voluntary Euthanasia Bill 2016 was tabled by Steph Key MP in February this year. It is the most extreme bill of the thirteen presented thus far in the SA Parliament and would effectively make South Australia the 'Belgium of the south'. Continue reading

You have to admire those that stand against the zeitgeist and swim against the tide on a principle. Recently was saw good examples of such courage in the pages of The Australian newspaper with articles by Paul Kelly and Angela Shanahan opposing euthanasia in circumstances where the paper has taken a very clear editorial policy of support.The same can be said of Rex Jory and his article in today's Advertiser in South Australia. The Advertiser, like other newspapers, seems to have drunk from the same Koolaid; which makes Rex Jory's piece stand out all the more. Continue reading

by Paul Russell: Lives Worth Living and Not Dead Yet Australia have joined together to let the South Australian Parliament know that they strongly oppose the Voluntary Euthanasia Bill 2016 in its current and its proposed (amended) form.Writing to the parliament this week, Lives Worth Living made some keen observations: Continue reading

by Paul Russell: The Australian newspaper ran a frontpage article over the weekend showcasing the concerns of the Insurance Industry over the Voluntary Euthanasia Bill 2016. The bill is to be debated this week in the South Australian House of Assembly.Why would the Insurance Industry be concerned? Continue reading