On the 6th of December voters in the South Australian State seat of Fisher will go to the polls to elect a replacement Member of Parliament following upon the death of long-term incumbent, Dr Bob Such MP. This seat holds significant interest for phesologists and for both the Labor Government and Liberal opposition. Dr Such was, for many years, an independent MP leaving many to wonder at the true nature of the electorate vis-à-vis the major parties.This morning on ABC Radio 891 the four candidates considered to be 'in with a chance' in Fisher were interviewed live on air. As this website deals only with the issue of euthanasia, I will deal only with the candidate's comments in this regard. Continue reading

An anonymous group of what is understood to be mainly Belgian students have rallied against their country's child euthanasia laws by taking political action in the current Federal Election. Some members of parliament have claimed that the defacing of candidates' election posters with a sticker saying: "He / she voted for the euthanasia of children" and the attendant 'thumbs down' is vandalism. Other more circumspect MPs have simply called it free speech. Continue reading

Philip Nitschke, who runs a euthanasia clinic in suburban Adelaide, said Dr Such's position had created a great opportunity for legislative change in South Australia. Dr Nitschke, who is also running for the Senate in Western Australia, called Dr Such yesterday to discuss pushing the issue in his negotiations with both Liberal and Labor."It puts us in a very important position and I'm pleased Dr Such will be able to exercise significant influence," he said. Continue reading

(see link to voter guides at bottom of this page)  SA voters will go to the polls on March 15th to elect a government for the next four years. Continue reading

(see voter guides at bottom of this page) Tasmanian voters will go to the polls on March 15th to elect a government for the next four years.  Continue reading

When I first heard that a disability group would contest the 2010 South Australian election for a seat in our Upper House I was mildly pleased. Though, on the face of it, they did not stand a chance of gaining a seat, disability issues are very personal to our family and my son Joseph who has Down Syndrome.  Early on, however, a friend warned me that he thought the use of the word 'Dignity' was the same usage as for pro-euthanasia groups. His words of caution were to prove to be well founded. Their slogan 'Dignity through Choice' is another pointer. Continue reading

Early days and the final make up of the successful Senate candidates from Saturday's election may not be actually known for sometime. With between 60% and 70% of the vote counted, however, there is a clear trend away from the dominance of the major parties in some states.     Continue reading

  Attempts to overturn the Federal have occurred often and over many years now - all in the Senate chamber. The Senate, will be the chamber that deliberates further on euthanasia in the coming parliament. Continue reading

You've got to give Dr Philip Nitschke some credit for telling it like it really is. Whilst Australia's state-based euthanasia lobby groups and their state-based MP supporters argue for limited legislation with so-called safeguards, Nitschke has consistently advocated for legalisation of euthanasia in a virtually unrestricted fashion - save only for the exclusion of minors and people with mental incapacity.  Some of the state-based groups have formally distanced themselves from Nitschke and Exit because of this; while for others, the relationship is a little less clear.  While they work to make their approach seem palatable to the public and polity alike, Nitschke's presence is a source of frustration because his is the logical end of even the most minimalistic approach. Continue reading

Yesterday  we reported how a WA independent MP has flagged her intention to bring on a euthanasia debate if she is re-elected. Pundits say that Adele Carles MP has little chance of retaining her seat.  Continue reading