Dying With Dignity petition tabled in Parliament
12th October 2021
UPDATE ON VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING BILL Awesome effort! My thanks to the thousands of local people who have signed the Dying with Dignity NSW petition. There are now more than 100,000 signatures. The petition will be lodged in State Parliament today by my independent colleague Alex Greenwich MP who is leading the charge on this vital reform. Thank you! The Bill itself will be introduced to Parliament on Thursday. That means debate will start the following Thursday (Oct 21). All parties are allowing their members a conscience vote. In more great news, all of the Hunter's Labor MPs are supporting the Bill and five have come on as co-sponsors. Thank you Sonia Hornery MP, Tim Crakanthorp MP , Jodie Harrison MP , Jenny Aitchison MP and Kate Washington MP . As I've always believed, I don't think it's right that one's religious beliefs play a significant role in the lives of others, but I found an unlikely ally in the former Archbishop of Canterbury this week when he said: "There is nothing holy about agony." "There is nothing in the scripture that directly prohibits assisted dying." And "it is a myth that all religious people are opposed to it."That's also been my experience and a national ABC Compass survey last year found that 70% of Catholics actually support VAD. The Archbishop's story is HERE for those interested.