🚀 go-pugleaf

paul@xenu.ee.mu.oz.au (Paul Dwerryhouse) writes:

>d-moss@adfa.oz.au (David Moss) writes:

>>Euthanasia banned in Australia !

>No, the ability to legalise Euthanasia banned in the Territories.

Sorry Paul, but euthanasia has always been banned in the States, passage
of the Andrews Bill banned it in the Northern Territory so my title
line is correct: euthanasia is now banned throughout Australia.

>As the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Shane Stone, pointed out 
>on ABC Radio's "AM" program this morning, this bill treats the residents
>of the Northern Territory and the ACT as second class citizens.

It is Stone's job to vigourously represent his constituents.
The fact remains that nothing has changed with respect to the way
the Commonwealth has the last word in Territory government. Their
constitution was written to allow Commonwealth override for good reason,
and the euthanasia issue highlights that reason was sound.

>>The battle against euthanasia in the Territories is won, but the war
>>against patient killing in the States could be about to begin.

>It is quite clear that it is time for the Northern Territory to become a 
>State in its own right.

On the contrary, this issue highlights the fact that the population base
of the NT, and hence the size of its Parliament is still far too small
for Statehood. There are Local Government councils with more constituents than
the entire Northern Territory. If you would be happy handing over life
and death decisions to your own local council, only then could you
honestly call for NT Statehood. Most councils I know are flat out
organising when pot-holes are filled in, or rubbish collected. Ask the
people of Wannaroo in WA if they would trust their council as a State
government. I seem to recall there are more people in Wannaroo than the NT.

>I am disgusted by the Senate's decision to pass this bill - quite clearly 
>we have not been able to separate church and state within Australia,
>as the majority of the pro-Andrews-bill speeches demonstrated. Once more
>we have a government that is run by religious zealots who care more for the
>proliferation of their warped beliefs than they do the rights of people
>to make decisions for themselves.

I really wish people would stop pushing the "religious fanatics"
barrow.  I sat through the entire second reading Senate proceedings,
committe stages and third reading. Iand barely heard religion
mentioned. The Lyons forum recieved more attention.  Face it Paul,
people like me consistently oppose euthanasia without reference to
religion, besides noting the fact that >90% of Australians claim to
hold religious beliefs which oppose patient killing.


>I would encourage all of the States of Australia to introduce their own
>bills legalising euthanasia, where the Commonwealth government will not
>be able to reach them.

The argument that the Commonwealth cannot override the States on this issue
is false. We all know Australia is a signatory to the UN Declaration of
Human Rights. Only if the Commonwealth is willing to acknowledge life to
have a lower priority than trees, or the right to bend over and bugger, can
it fail to impose the obligations of this treaty using its external affairs
power.

As I said, the war against patient killing is not yet over, but the
pro-euthanasia lobby was devastated by passage of the Andrews Bill.
Most speakers against the Bill in the Senate were not supporting
euthanasia, but making a misguided effort to apply the principle of
States Rights to the Territories. Doubtlessly the euthanasia lobby will
try the same tactics next time, but even the Democrats are not hypocritical
enough to vote down Tasmania's rights twice, then argue the opposite on
a "right to life" issue.

David Moss,
personal opinion only.
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/8270 for anti-euthanasia resources.