BATHURST MP Paul Toole has again resisted taking a definite stance on either side of the euthanasia debate, with NSW Parliament expected to vote this week on a Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill.
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Mr Toole added his voice to a discussion of the bill in parliament last Friday, speaking for eight minutes before resuming his seat without having made it clear which way he intended to vote.
Mr Toole said he had sought the views of his community as he considers his position on the bill and said he respected opinions on both sides of the debate.
"I have read every letter and survey that has been returned to my office," the deputy premier told parliament.
"I have heard from constituents who are suffering from terminal illnesses and those who have watched an elderly relative unable to walk to the bathroom and unable to eat for weeks, until their body shuts down.
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"Another constituent writes of the need to have choice about their circumstances in both life and death, especially when there is no cure and only pain.
"... Many people come to this debate guided by a range of personal circumstances, religious beliefs, the views of loved ones and extended family members, and their own view of what end-of-life decisions should look like.
"... If this debate was simple laws would have been introduced years ago."
Mr Toole said the ongoing debate over assisted dying had also highlighted the need for greater spending on palliative care ["no doubt we can always do more in that area"] and raised the question of whether there was such a thing as a "pain-free manner of dying".
"We cannot pretend that every death, even if assisted, will be a painless passing. No law can remove pain or suffering - if only our laws could," he said.
"... The manner of death will not change, but the choice on how to manage it may well change."
Former Dying With Dignity NSW president Richard Mills said Mr Toole's speech in parliament on Friday was "remarkable for being the only one that did not make it clear what his position was".
MPs are expected to finally vote on the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill on Thursday or Friday, with Mr Mills saying that of the 65 MPs who had spoken so far on the bill, 38 had indicated support and 25 were in opposition.
To pass the lower house, the bill would need support from at least 47 of the state's 93 MPs.
Dying With Dignity has recently highlighted a 2019 Vote Compass survey of around 1600 respondents across the Bathurst electorate that found 79 per cent of respondents had indicated their support for voluntary euthanasia.
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