Premier’s heartbreak prompts change

The Queensland Premier introduced a draft of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021 to parliament on Tuesday.

Developed by the Queensland Law Reform Commission, the Bill will spend the next 12 weeks with the Health and Environment Parliamentary Committee and will go through further public consultation before MPs are asked to take a conscience vote on a finalised Bill in September.

Ms Palaszczuk said the Bill delivered on an “important election commitment” she had made to Queenslanders, borne of her “heartbreaking” experiences with the death of her grandmother and uncle.

“Many Queenslanders who have watched a loved one suffer feel passionately that there must be dignified options available to everyone,” she said on Tuesday.

“It provides a chain of safeguards to ensure only those at the end of life can make these choices and then only those capable of making that choice for themselves.”

The government has also announced it will invest a further $171m in palliative care.

“At its heart, this reform is about love and the dignity we all share and owe to each other,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“I urge all Queenslanders to ensure the utmost respect for other people and other points of view.

“When the time comes, MPs will vote according to their conscience.”

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the draft legislation recognised that an individual’s autonomy and dignity “should be respected” when making end-of-life choices.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said he would allow his MPs to vote according to their conscience but has not decided which way he will vote yet and will keep an “open mind”.

Traeger MP Robbie Katter is fiercely opposed to the Bill, however, and appeared outside Parliament House with protesters on Tuesday.

“While myself and my Katter’s Australian Party colleagues plan to review the Queensland Law Reform Commission’s report into the subject as well as the legislation that will be introduced today, it is highly likely we will be voting against it based on principle,” he said in a statement.

“I am of the belief that creating and preserving life is, and should remain, the most primary endeavour of our society, and our governments should reflect this.

“While I understand there is great complexity and emotion around issues of life and death, we do not believe the legislation of suicide (even with the strictest of conditions) is the answer.

“Death will come to us all and it is never easy, but all Queenslanders, including First Australians who overwhelmingly abhor the idea of legalising euthanasia, deserve far better than this.”

The draft Bill includes safeguards to protect those who seek to use voluntary assisted dying and medical practitioners and entities asked to participate in the process.