[Right_to_die] Australian Premier will allow conscience vote on euthanasia

[World right-to-die news (nonprofit)]

The Sydney Morning Herald reported  2 May 08:

Rudd explains why he opposes euthanasia

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd remains opposed to voluntary 
euthanasia but says parliamentarians are entitled to a conscience vote 
on the issue.

Euthanasia was a complex and difficult area of medicine but laws 
allowing it could lead to the elderly and terminally ill thinking they 
were a burden on their loved ones, he said.

The Senate is currently revisiting a decision by the previous government 
to overturn the Northern Territory's euthanasia laws.

Australian Greens senator Bob Brown has introduced a private member's 
bill seeking to restore the laws.

Mr Rudd, who supported the Howard government decision, said he was 
opposed to the move.

"I say that as someone who has ... been in family circumstances where 
you've seen people very near and dear to you, in the case of myself, my 
mother, who died of cancer," he told Macquarie Radio Network.

"It's not pretty to watch but my own personal view ... these are matters 
for conscience votes.

"If it becomes a mater for vote in the federal parliament, people 
exercise their conscience differently. You asked me directly what my 
view is, that's it."

The question of whether there would be another conscience vote on 
euthanasia depended entirely on what proposals were put forward across 
the country and how they impacted on the federal parliament, he said.

"All these life matters, including euthanasia, have historically been 
the subject of a conscience vote on the part of our government's 
members," he said. "I think I can say the same in relation to the 
coalition. If one came forward, from whatever quarter, then that would 
be my approach."

Mr Rudd says his opposition to euthanasia is "not some sort of abstract 
ideological point of view".

"It's just my own personal view ... that if you changed the laws in this 
area, I do become concerned about the way in which these things can 
drift over time," he said.

"Particularly in the attitude taken by older people themselves, or 
people with terminal illnesses, who then conclude that they are being an 
increasing burden to their families and then conclude that it's in other 
people's interests, not their own best interests, to seek euthanasia."

Mr Rudd wouldn't comment on a suggestion euthanasia was already being 
practised illegally in Australia. "It's a complex area. Really hard. 
People going through this trauma right now ... I don't apply any 
judgment whatever."