As NSW Deputy Premier and Bathurst MP Paul Toole continues to gauge community feedback on the state government's Voluntary Assisted Dying [VAD] bill via letterbox survey, members of Dying With Dignity NSW have brought to light existing data from a 2019 survey in tandem to further stress the thoughts of the electorate.
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From around 1600 respondents across the Bathurst electorate to a Vote Compass survey conducted during the 2019 federal election, 79 per cent have expressed support for the VAD bill, which was first brought to state parliament on October 14.
Dying With Dignity NSW member Simone Shearer, who penned a personal letter to Mr Toole discussing the importance of why the VAD bill should be passed, said she's worried about the decision being left to a conscience vote.
"I would like to see Mr Toole carefully consider the feelings of the entire electorate, and our survey indicates most are in favour of this bill being passed," Ms Shearer said.
"The point I want to get across is that this bill will give terminally ill people and their families the legal right to end their suffering, and it's a personal choice depending on the individual and family."
Voluntary euthanasia has been legal in Victoria since 2019 and Western Australia since July, with Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland having all passed legislation to legalise it in the coming months.
Dying With Dignity NSW and former president Richard Mills said New Zealand has also introduced legislation regarding voluntary euthanasia, and that it's only right NSW should follow suit.
"All other Australian states and NZ have gone through the same process over the last five years: conducting surveys, gauging popular opinion, looking at overseas experiences, discussions with medical professionals: they've all concluded voluntary euthanasia is the compassionate option for people who are terminal," Mr Mills said.
Mr Toole said he will take great care to consider a wide range of perspectives before determining his stance, having previously stated "my community's say is important in forming an opinion in what is the best pathway forward."
"There's certainly a number of varying sides to this debate, and it's a sensitive topic to many, so I want to ensure my position on the matter is very well founded before I state my stance."
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"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
