109-504: The Voluntary Euthanasia Party (VEP) was a minor political party in Australia, founded in early 2013 by Corey McCann to advocate for legislative change to allow voluntary euthanasia in Australia. The party's inception was strongly supported by Dr Philip Nitschke , director of Exit International and Richard Mills, then President of Dying with Dignity NSW. The VEP was registered as a political party from June 2013 to March 2021, and had
218-615: A "strong chance of winning lower house seats and three or four Senate seats". Liberal Senator Michael Ronaldson announced on 18 December 2015 that he would leave parliament before the next election, after moving from the outer ministry in the Abbott government to the backbench in the Turnbull government. He resigned on 28 February 2016, and the casual vacancy was filled by James Paterson on 9 March 2016. Labor Senator Joe Bullock announced on 1 March 2016 that he would be resigning from
327-582: A "two-party/candidate preferred swing"—when a major party is absent, preference flows to both major parties do not take place, resulting in asymmetric preference flows. In November 2014 the Australian Electoral Commission announced that a redistribution of electoral boundaries in New South Wales and Western Australia would be undertaken before the next election. A determination of the states' membership entitlements under
436-424: A Floridian who had been in a vegetative state since 1990, had her feeding tube removed. Her husband had won the right to take her off life support, which he claimed she would want but was difficult to confirm as she had no living will and the rest of her family claimed otherwise. In November 2008, Washington Initiative 1000 made Washington the second U.S. state to legalize physician-assisted suicide. Euthanasia
545-623: A Senate majority, an increase of three. Both major parties agreed to allocate six-year terms to the first six senators elected in each state, while the last six would serve three-year terms. Labor and the Coalition each gained a six-year Senator at the expense of Hinch and the Greens, who criticised the major parties for rejecting the "recount" method despite supporting it in two bipartisan senate resolutions in 1998 and 2010. A number of initially-elected senators were declared ineligible
654-632: A candidate for the House of Representatives seat of Menzies in Victoria. The VEP received 23,252 first preference votes in the Senate (0.17% of votes), while the sole House of Representatives candidate received 973 votes. The VEP did not run any candidates in the 2019 Australian federal election , rather they focused on canvasing the views of major candidates in key electorates. The VEP fielded ten candidates in five Victorian Legislative Council regions at
763-514: A chest infection. Voluntary assisted dying schemes have been in effect in the following states; Victoria since 19 June 2019, Western Australia since 1 July 2021, Tasmania since 23 October 2022, Queensland since 1 January 2023, and South Australia since 31 January 2023. New South Wales was the final state to pass legislation for assisted dying in May 2022, which went into effect on 28 November 2023. In New Zealand's 2020 general election
872-506: A coma leading to respiratory arrest . However, if the person is too ill to administer the medication themselves, a typical surgical anesthesia induction is performed ( midazolam + propofol ) and then once a coma is achieved, pancuronium or vecuronium is used to paralyse the diaphragm and induce respiratory arrest. 2016 Australian federal election Malcolm Turnbull Liberal/National coalition Malcolm Turnbull Liberal/National coalition The 2016 Australian federal election
981-512: A community as one that would facilitate the death of those whose lives had become burdensome as a result of "torturing and lingering pain", see Utopia (More book) § Interpretation . Since the 19th century, euthanasia has sparked intermittent debates and activism in Europe and the Americas. According to medical historian Ezekiel Emanuel, it was the availability of anesthesia that ushered in
1090-411: A deadly drug nor give advice which may cause his death." However, since the 1970s, this oath has largely fallen out of use . Some people, including many Christians, consider euthanasia of some or all types to be morally unacceptable. This view usually treats euthanasia to be a type of murder and voluntary euthanasia as a type of suicide, the morality of which is the subject of active debate. If there
1199-415: A dissolution or expiry of the House. Up to 27 days can be allowed for nominations, and the actual election can be set for a maximum of 31 days after close of nominations, resulting in the latest possible House of Representatives election date of Saturday, 14 January 2017. A double dissolution cannot take place within six months before the date of the expiry of the House of Representatives. That meant that
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#17328015312951308-570: A double dissolution could not be granted after 11 May 2016. Allowing for the same stages indicated above, the last possible date for a double dissolution election was 16 July 2016. On 2 November 2015, Prime Minister Turnbull stated: "I would say around September–October [2016] is when you should expect the next election to be." However, in December 2015, ABC News reported that some "senior Liberal MPs" had been seeking an election as early as March 2016. An election held at this time would have required
1417-695: A federal branch as well as state branches in New South Wales and Victoria. In 2019, the New South Wales branch voted to become the branch of the Reason Party in that state, while the Victorian branch voluntarily de-registered in 2020 following that state's implementation of assisted suicide laws . Before the party was founded and registered, a number of pro-voluntary euthanasia groups contested elections in South Australia . Doug McLaren
1526-415: A form of passive euthanasia, while others treat it separately because it is treated differently from legal point of view, and often perceived as a more ethical option. VRFF is sometimes suggested as a legal alternative to euthanasia in jurisdictions disallowing euthanasia. Assisted suicide is a practice in which a person receives assistance in bringing about their death, typically people suffering from
1635-573: A majority. On 21 November 2021, the act was put into place. On 20 May 1997, the Constitutional Court of Colombia decriminalised piety homicide, for terminally ill patients, stating that "the medical author cannot be held responsible for the assisted suicide of a terminally ill patient" and urged Congress to regulate euthanasia "in the shortest time possible". On 15 December 2014, the Constitutional Court had given
1744-636: A month later, and Turnbull replaced Tony Abbott as Liberal leader and prime minister on 14 September 2015 after a leadership challenge win in the September 2015 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill ten months prior. Elections in Australia use a full-preferential system in one vote, one value single-member seats for the 150-member House of Representatives ( lower house ) and in time for this election changed from full-preferential group voting tickets to an optional-preferential single transferable vote system of proportional representation in
1853-515: A result of the 2017–18 Australian parliamentary eligibility crisis , and replaced after recounts. As of 2023 this is the most recent federal election for the major parties to have new leaders when Shorten replaced Kevin Rudd after the 2013 Australian federal election , loss for the latter, as Labor leader after beating Anthony Albanese in the October 2013 Australian Labor Party leadership election
1962-433: A result of the changes, voters may assign their preferences for parties above the line (numbering as many boxes as they wish), or individual candidates below the line, and are not required to fill all of the boxes. Both above and below the line voting are now optional preferential voting . For above the line, voters will be instructed to write at least their first six preferences; however, a "savings provision" will still count
2071-588: A seat each. For the first time since federation , a party managed to form government without winning a plurality of seats in the two most populous states, New South Wales and Victoria . One re-count was held by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) for the Division of Herbert , confirming that Labor won the seat by 37 votes. The final outcome in the 76-seat Senate took over four weeks to complete. Announced on 4 August,
2180-542: A separate half-Senate election to be held in late 2016 or early 2017. On 21 March 2016, Turnbull announced that the parliament would be recalled for both houses to sit on 18 April to consider for a third time the bills to reinstate the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC). Turnbull also said that if the Senate failed to pass the bill, then there would be a double dissolution of parliament and an election would be held on 2 July. The delivery of
2289-421: A severe physical illness, in which the final step in the process is actively performed by the person concerned. In physician-assisted suicide (also called physician aid-in-dying or PAD) a physician knowingly provides a competent but suffering patient, upon the patient's request, with the means by which the patient intends to end his or her own life. Assisted suicide is contrasted with "active euthanasia" when
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#17328015312952398-466: A taboo surrounding discussions of death, poses significant obstacles to the development of euthanasia. The concept of euthanasia is often seen as pessimistic in this cultural context. However, Buddhism, the predominant religion in China, views euthanasia as a means to achieve a peaceful and suffering-free death, making it more acceptable to some. In Hong Kong, support for euthanasia among the general public
2507-693: A terminal illness in July 2021. In 1957 in Britain, Mr Justice Devlin ruled in the trial of Dr John Bodkin Adams that causing death through the administration of lethal drugs to a patient, if the intention is solely to alleviate pain, is not considered murder even if death is a potential or even likely outcome. In 1993, the Netherlands decriminalized doctor- assisted suicide , and in 2002, restrictions were loosened. During that year, physician-assisted suicide
2616-494: A total of 687,000 enrolment transactions, and it was estimated that 95% of eligible Australians were enrolled for the election, with a participation rate of those under 24 of 86.7%. By 18 April 2016 there were four bills that met the requirements of Section 57 of the constitution for a double dissolution. On 19 April the Prime Minister confirmed that, following the 2016 federal budget set for 3 May, he would advise
2725-500: Is a criminal offense in China. For example, in Shanghai a 67-year-old man was sentenced to five years in prison when he euthanized his 92-year-old mother when she emerged from a hospital procedure only able to move one finger and one toe. The sentence was considered lenient because he had displayed filial piety toward his mother. While active euthanasia remains illegal in China, it is gaining increasing acceptance among doctors and
2834-427: Is a fundamental principle for liberal democracies and free market systems. The pain and suffering a person feels during a disease, even with pain relievers, can be incomprehensible to a person who has not gone through it. Even without considering the physical pain, it is often difficult for patients to overcome the emotional pain of losing their independence. Those who witness others die are "particularly convinced" that
2943-414: Is a violation of patient freedoms. They believe that any competent terminally-ill patient should have the right to choose death or refuse life-saving treatment. Suicide and assistance from their physician is seen as the only option those patients have. With the suffering and the knowledge from the doctor, this may also suggest that PAS is a humane answer to the excruciating pain. An argument against PAS
3052-535: Is given, such as 20 mg pancuronium bromide (Pavulon) or 20 mg vecuronium bromide (Norcuron). The muscle relaxant should preferably be given intravenously, in order to ensure optimal availability. Only for pancuronium bromide (Pavulon) are there substantial indications that the agent may also be given intramuscularly in a dosage of 40 mg. In other jurisdictions (such as Australia and New Zealand), voluntary assisted dying uses 30 mL oral suspensions containing pentobarbital and an anti-emetic to induce
3161-492: Is higher among those who put less importance on religious belief, those who are non-Christian, those who have higher family incomes, those who have more experience in taking care of terminally ill family members, and those who are older. Legislation in Canada is actively evolving and debated. In 2016, Canadian parliament passed legislation allowing eligible adults to request medical assistance in dying (MAiD). Legal access to MAiD
3270-433: Is no universally agreed definition of "voluntary euthanasia". Terms like dying with dignity, physician-assisted dying, physician- assisted suicide and voluntary assisted dying are also used. The VEP regards voluntary euthanasia as involving a request by a terminally or incurably ill person for medical assistance to end his or her life painlessly and peacefully. A doctor may administer the medication or prescribe medication that
3379-437: Is preferred. The following is a Dutch protocol for parenteral (intravenous) administration to obtain euthanasia: Intravenous administration is the most reliable and rapid way to accomplish euthanasia. A coma is first induced by intravenous administration of 20 mg/kg sodium thiopental (Nesdonal) in a small volume (10 ml physiological saline). Then a triple intravenous dose of a non-depolarizing neuromuscular muscle relaxant
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3488-497: Is some reason to believe the cause of a patient's illness or suffering is or will soon be curable, the correct action is sometimes considered to attempt to bring about a cure or engage in palliative care. Feasibility of implementation: Euthanasia can only be considered voluntary if a patient is mentally competent to make the decision, i.e., has a rational understanding of options and consequences. Competence can be difficult to determine or even define. Consent under pressure: Given
3597-565: Is sometimes cited as one of the possible outcomes of the slippery slope argument , in which it is claimed that permitting voluntary euthanasia to occur will lead to the support and legalization of non-voluntary and involuntary euthanasia . Euthanasia brings about many ethical issues regarding a patient's death. Some physicians say euthanasia is a rational choice for competent patients who wish to die to escape unbearable suffering. Physicians who are in favor of euthanasia state that to keep euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide (PAS) illegal
3706-794: Is the purposeful ending of another person's life at their request, in order to relieve them of suffering . Voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS) have been the focus of intense debate in the 21st century, surrounding the idea of a right to die . Some forms of voluntary euthanasia are legal in Australia , Belgium , Canada , Colombia , Luxembourg , the Netherlands , New Zealand , and Spain . Voluntary refusal of food and fluids (VRFF), also called voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) or Patient Refusal of Nutrition and Hydration (PRNH), will similarly result in death. Some authors classify this voluntary action as
3815-520: Is the violation of the Hippocratic oath that some doctors take. The Hippocratic oath states: "I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan." Another reason for prohibiting PAS and euthanasia is the option of abusing PAS if it were to become legal. Poor or uninsured patients may not have the money or no access to proper care will have limited options, and they could be pressured toward assisted death. During
3924-639: The Bulletin of the History of Medicine , Brown University historian Jacob M. Appel documented extensive political debate over legislation to legalize physician-assisted suicide in both Iowa and Ohio in 1906. Appel indicates social activist Anna Sophina Hall , a wealthy heiress who had watched her mother die after an extended battle with liver cancer , was the driving force behind this movement. According to historian Ian Dowbiggin , leading public figures, including Clarence Darrow and Jack London , advocated for
4033-794: The Sunday Mail in Brisbane, the Sunday Times in Perth and the Sunday Mail in Adelaide. Labor won the endorsement of only the Sunday Age in Melbourne. The Sunday Tasmanian and Sunday Territorian did not publish endorsements prior to this election. Labor's close ties to the union movement were of concern to many papers, even to the supportive Sunday Age , which described
4142-533: The 2014 Victorian state election on 29 November 2014. The lead candidate was Dr Fiona Stewart , public health sociologist and co-author of four books about end of life issues including The Peaceful Pill Handbook . The VEP received 16,772 first preference votes (0.49% of votes). The VEP fielded sixteen candidates in eight Victorian Legislative Council regions at the 2018 Victorian state election on 24 November 2018. The VEP received 42,611 first preference votes (1.19% of votes). The VEP stood sixteen candidates for
4251-596: The 2015 North Sydney by-election which was held on 5 December. The seat was retained for the Liberal Party by Trent Zimmerman . Zimmerman won with 48.2% of the primary vote after a larger-than-predicted 12.8-point swing against the Turnbull Coalition government. This was only the second time in North Sydney since federation that the successful Liberal candidate failed to obtain a majority of
4360-587: The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (CEA). Section 28 of the Constitution of Australia provides that the term of a House expires three years from the first sitting of the House, unless it is dissolved earlier. The previous federal election was held on 7 September 2013. The 44th Parliament of Australia opened on 12 November 2013 and its term would have expired on 11 November 2016. Writs for an election can be issued up to ten days after
4469-474: The Hippocratic Oath , which was written between 400 and 300 BC. The original Oath states: "To please no one will I prescribe a deadly drug nor give advice which may cause his death." Despite this, the ancient Greeks and Romans generally did not believe that life needed to be preserved at any cost and were, in consequence, tolerant of suicide in cases where no relief could be offered to the dying or, in
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4578-564: The House of Representatives seat of Solomon in the Northern Territory. Three of the candidates were terminally ill. The VEP received 21,854 first preference votes in the Senate (0.16% of votes), while the sole House of Representatives candidate received 597 votes. The VEP nominated seven candidates at the 2016 Australian federal election : six candidates for the Senate (two each in New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria); and
4687-514: The Mal Brough – James Ashby diary controversy deepened in the last week of the campaign. Along with the unexpected by-election swing and Turnbull's significantly lessened personal ratings in the concurrent December Newspoll, some News Corp Australia journalists claimed that Turnbull's honeymoon was over. The Nick Xenophon Team (NXT) listed many candidates throughout Australia , with ABC psephologist Antony Green indicating NXT had
4796-623: The Ministry of Health and Social Protection 30 days to publish guidelines for the healthcare sector to use in order to guarantee terminated ill patients, with the wish to undergo euthanasia, their right to a dignified death. On 7 January 2022, Victor Escobar became the first person to undergo voluntary euthanasia without a terminal illness in the country; he had been suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease . Voluntary euthanasia had been legalised in Colombia for people who did not have
4905-826: The New South Wales Legislative Council in the 2015 New South Wales state election on 28 March 2015. The lead candidate was Shayne Higson. Higson began advocating for voluntary assisted dying legislation after her mother died from a brain tumour in 2012. The VEP received 40,710 votes (0.94% of votes). The VEP stood sixteen candidates for the New South Wales Legislative Council in the 2019 New South Wales state election on 23 March 2019. Shayne Higson resumed her role as lead candidate. The VEP received 46,971 votes (1.06% of votes). Higson finished in 26th place out of 364 candidates; seats were awarded to those who finished in
5014-642: The Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1996 , was passed in the Northern Territory of Australia. Four patients died through assisted suicide under the Act, using a device designed by Dr Philip Nitschke . The legislation was overturned by Australia's Federal Parliament in 1997. In response to the overturning of the Act, Nitschke founded Exit International . In 2009, an Australian quadriplegic
5123-476: The Sun-Herald was supportive of some Labor policies, it said Shorten had failed to make "a compelling case that Australia needs a new government." Invoking the instability of Australian politics since 2010, the paper was unenthusiastic about electing "our sixth prime minister in six years." Turnbull, the Sun-Herald concluded, deserved "a chance to establish his own mandate." The need for political stability
5232-539: The federal budget was also brought forward from 10 May to 3 May. On 18 April, the Senate once again rejected the bills to reinstate the ABCC. On 8 May Malcolm Turnbull attended Government House to advise the Governor-General to issue the writs for a double dissolution on 9 May. This confirmed the date of the election; 2 July 2016. In the weeks after 8 May, there were 132,000 additions to the electoral roll, and
5341-748: The 2016 federal election and immediately stood aside as Leader of the Nationals. Barnaby Joyce was elected as Leader and was sworn as the Deputy Prime Minister, and Fiona Nash was elected as Deputy Leader of the Nationals. Truss also resigned from the Turnbull Ministry. Ian Macfarlane attempted to defect from the Liberal to the National party room with accompanying demands for additional Nationals cabinet representation, and
5450-494: The 20th century, efforts to change government policies on euthanasia have met limited success in Western countries. Euthanasia policies have also been developed by a variety of NGOs, most notably medical associations and advocacy organisations. There are a range of eligibility requirements which must be satisfied before a patient can receive VAD treatment. Those that are deemed ineligible are required to wait months for care through
5559-466: The 76-member Senate ( upper house ). Voting is compulsory but subject to constitutional constraints. The decision as to the type of election and its date is for the Prime Minister, who advises the Governor-General to set the process in motion by dissolving the lower or both houses and issuing writs for election . Section 13 of the constitution requires that in half-Senate elections the election of state senators must take place within one year before
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#17328015312955668-587: The Coalition as the best alternative to, in the Times words, "steer us through these turbulent times." The Brisbane Sunday Mail summed up the general view among the papers of Turnbull: "yet to fulfil his promise as Prime Minister." Though the Sunday Telegraph agreed his government had been "timid", it concluded "We are fortunate to have as Prime Minister a man of integrity, decency and undoubted intellect." The Australian Financial Review endorsed
5777-541: The Coalition two days before polling day, in particular its plans to balance the federal budget, and boost economic growth by cutting company tax. Although the editorial viewed Turnbull's performance in office as "too timid", it concluded that "there is no alternative" but to support his re-election. The newspaper acknowledged Shorten's effectiveness as a campaigner, but it was scathing of the Opposition Leader's platform and tactics. His "resort to crass populism and
5886-757: The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 meant that Western Australia's entitlement increased from 15 to 16 seats, and New South Wales' decreased from 48 to 47 seats. A redistribution also occurred in the Australian Capital Territory, as seven years had elapsed since the last time the ACT's boundaries were reviewed. On 16 November 2015, the AEC announced that a redistribution of electoral boundaries in Tasmania would be deferred until after
5995-516: The Criminal Law ) and clergyman Joseph Fletcher ("Morals and medicine"). By the 1960s, advocacy for a right-to-die approach to voluntary euthanasia increased. Since March 2018, passive euthanasia is legal in India under strict guidelines. Patients must consent through a living will, and must be either terminally ill or in a vegetative state. In 1996, the world's first euthanasia legislation,
6104-744: The Dying with Dignity and Exit International movements. The immediate goal of the VEP was to make voluntary euthanasia a central issue at the September 2013 Federal election. In December 2019, the VEP's NSW branch voted overwhelmingly to become the NSW branch of the Reason Party , on the grounds that being a single issue political party was a liability, and the Reason party were established supporters of voluntary euthanasia. Reason party leader Fiona Patten also stated
6213-634: The Government's budget discipline. Turnbull's "stolid pitch on frugality ... provided the contrast against which the Labor opposition could be judged," the editorial ran. Though it rated the Coalition's economic plan as "adequate at best," The Australian contrasted this with "an unthinkable Labor alternative that, even after the overblown GFC stimulus of the Rudd – Gillard – Rudd years, would respond to current challenges by spending more, taxing more and taking
6322-439: The Governor-General to call a double dissolution election on Saturday 2 July. Any or all of these four bills could have been cited in his advice. On Sunday 8 May 2016, Turnbull visited Government House and formally advised Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove to dissolve both Houses of Parliament and issue the writs for a double dissolution election to be held on 2 July 2016. The advice was based on Parliament's inability to pass
6431-614: The Liberal margin would have been reduced from a fairly safe 9.8 points to an extremely marginal 0.5 point as a result. Hunter was first contested at the inaugural 1901 federal election ; the AEC's naming guidelines require it to make "every effort" to preserve the names of the original federal divisions. The Commission proposed renaming Charlton to Hunter, and in honour of deceased Prime Minister Gough Whitlam , renaming Throsby to Whitlam . The final proposal, however, saw Charlton abolished, with Hunter moving slightly eastward to take in much of Charlton's territory. Additionally, Paterson
6540-735: The Party, and was succeeded by Kerry Bromson in October 2014. Philip Nitschke , the founder of Exit International , was the Deputy Convenor until October 2016, followed by Kym Buckley (2016–2017), and Shayne Higson (2017–2019). The Party Secretaries have been Corey McCann (2013–2015), Sandi Steep (2015–2016), David Mahoney (2016–2017), Sue Inglis (2018) and Julie Hanley (2018–2019). The Party Treasurers have been Jane Stabb (2013–2015), Justin Templer (2015–2016) and Sandi Steep (2016–2019). There
6649-549: The Senate after the autumn sittings of parliament, citing—among other reasons—his opposition to same-sex marriage being at odds with the Labor Party's platform to bind its members in a supporting vote after 2019. Bullock tendered his resignation to Senate President Stephen Parry on 13 April 2016. The casual vacancy was filled by Pat Dodson on 28 April 2016. Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer announced on 4 May 2016 that he would not recontest his seat of Fairfax at
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#17328015312956758-589: The Supreme Court approved the use of non-active euthanasia. In 1994, Oregon voters approved the Death with Dignity Act , permitting doctors to assist terminal patients with six months or less to live to end their lives. The U.S. Supreme Court allowed such laws in 1997. The Bush administration failed in its attempt to use drug law to stop Oregon in 2001, in the case Gonzales v. Oregon . In 2005, amid U.S. government roadblocks and controversy, Terri Schiavo ,
6867-714: The age of 65. Debilitating chronic pain and disease is heavily assessed when considering patients for assisted dying and for people over the age of 65, even if several medical conditions are present, it does not mean the person is eligible for this procedure. Poor mental health, geriatric syndromes, falls, delirium are underlying conditions that have the potential to exarate one’s pain and suffering in this age group, this also does not guarantee access to assisted dying. Chronic and acute conditions are common amongst elderly Australians that can range from mild to debilitating pain levels, limiting physical abilities, and taking large mental tolls on individuals. Regardless of personal choice and
6976-495: The ballot if less than six were given. As a result, fewer votes are expected to be classed as informal; however, more ballots will "exhaust" as a result (i.e. some votes are not counted towards electing any candidate). For below the line, voters will be required to number at least their first 12 preferences. Voters will be free to continue numbering as many preferences as they like beyond the minimum number specified. Another savings provision will allow ballot papers with at least 6 below
7085-422: The ballot paper. The ballot paper continues to have a box for each party above a heavy line, with each party's candidates in a column below that party's box below the solid line. Previously, a voter could either mark a single box above the line , which triggered the party's group voting ticket (a pre-assigned sequence of preferences), or place a number in every box below the line to assign their own preferences. As
7194-539: The case of the Stoics and Epicureans , where a person no longer cared for his life. English Common Law from the 14th century until the middle of the last century made suicide a criminal act in England and Wales. Assisting others to kill themselves remains illegal in that jurisdiction. However, in the 16th century, Thomas More , considered a saint by Roman Catholics, described a utopian community and envisaged such
7303-599: The complexity of health and medical issues, medical professionals can object to Voluntary Assisted Dying at any point regardless of eligibility should they feel it necessary. There are many different religious views on the issue of voluntary euthanasia, although many moral theologians are critical of the procedure. Euthanasia can be accomplished either through an oral, intravenous, or intramuscular administration of drugs, or by oxygen deprivation ( anoxia ), as in some euthanasia machines . In individuals who are incapable of swallowing lethal doses of medication, an intravenous route
7412-454: The country included a binding referendum asking voters if the End of Life Choice Act 2019 should pass. The Act would legalise voluntary euthanasia for patients with a terminal illness and less than six months left to live if approved by two doctors. New Zealand is the first country to put euthanasia legalisation to a referendum. On 17 October 2020, 65.91% of voters supported the passing of the act;
7521-439: The defeat of the party. Chris Bowen became the interim leader in the approach to a leadership election . Two candidates, Anthony Albanese and Bill Shorten, declared their candidacy; Shorten was declared the winner on 13 October 2013. As a result of lost ballot papers, on 18 February 2014 the High Court of Australia , sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns , ordered a new half-Senate election for Western Australia, which
7630-428: The difference between providing the means and actively administering lethal medicine is considered important. For example, Swiss law allows assisted suicide while all forms of active euthanasia (like lethal injection ) remain prohibited. The term euthanasia comes from the Greek words "eu"-meaning good and "thanatos"-meaning death, which combined means "well-death" or "dying well". Hippocrates mentions euthanasia in
7739-509: The economic grounds for voluntary euthanasia, critics of voluntary euthanasia are concerned that patients may experience psychological pressure to consent to voluntary euthanasia rather than be a financial burden on their families. Even where health costs are mostly covered by public money, as in most developed countries, voluntary euthanasia critics are concerned that hospital personnel would have an economic incentive to advise or pressure people toward euthanasia consent. Non-voluntary euthanasia
7848-568: The economy, there was general concern about the sustainability of Labor's approach to public spending. "Even an economic illiterate could see [Shorten's] 10-year economic "plan" was forged in fantasy land," opined the Sunday Times , "On this dangerous policy alone, Labor should not be given the opportunity to govern." The Sunday Age , however, took the view that increased taxation, and with it increased spending on education, should take priority: "a smarter society will be more productive." Though
7957-472: The election, as the Electoral Act provides that a redistribution shall not commence where there is less than a year until the expiry of the House of Representatives (i.e., 11 November 2016). In October 2015, the AEC announced plans to abolish the seat of Hunter . Electors in the north of Hunter would have joined New England , while the roughly 40% remainder would have become part of Paterson , where
8066-406: The election. The Coalition won the 2013 federal election with 90 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives, on a swing of 17 seats or 3.6 points on a two-party basis, defeating the six-year Labor government. Labor held 55 seats, and crossbenchers held the remaining five. The Abbott government was sworn into office on 18 September 2013. Kevin Rudd resigned as Labor's leader following
8175-565: The election. On 23 May he also ruled out running for a Senate seat. In the lower house seat of Brisbane , both the Liberal-National and Labor candidates were openly gay ; a first in Australian federal political history. In the 44th Parliament, there were three by-elections. Rudd resigned from Parliament on 22 November 2013, triggering the 2014 Griffith by-election , which was held on 8 February, with Terri Butler retaining
8284-707: The electoral system for the Senate. On 22 February 2016, the Turnbull government announced several proposed changes. In the Senate, the changes had the support of the Liberal/National Coalition, the Australian Greens, and Nick Xenophon. The legislation passed both houses of the Parliament of Australia on 18 March 2016 after the Senate sat all night debating the bill. The changes abolished group voting tickets (GVTs) and introduced optional preferential voting, along with party logos on
8393-408: The electorate have long preferred that elections for the two Houses take place simultaneously. A House-only election can be called at any time during a parliamentary term. Whether held simultaneously with a Senate election or separately, an election for the House of Representatives was required to have been held on or before 14 January 2017, which is calculated under provisions of the constitution and
8502-406: The following three bills: The Governor-General accepted the advice and dissolved both houses of the Parliament the following day, 9 May 2016. The constitutional and legal provisions which impacted on the choice of election dates include: On 8 May 2016, the office of the Governor-General released documents relating to the calling of the election. The documents set out a timeline of key dates for
8611-509: The general populace. Medical practitioners in China support euthanasia laws. A 2006 research emphasised that studies in the 1990s revealed a substantial surge in support for euthanasia, particularly among medical personnel. This is corroborated by a poll conducted by the Chinese Academy of Medical Science , which found that 95% of medical staffs approved of the act of euthanasia. Chinese culture, with its emphasis on filial piety and
8720-544: The incumbent Prime Minister, Tony Abbott , was challenged for the leadership of the Liberal Party and thus the prime ministership by Malcolm Turnbull, the Minister for Communications. Turnbull won the vote 54–44 and on 15 September was sworn in as prime minister, starting the Turnbull government. On 11 February 2016 Warren Truss , the Deputy Prime Minister , announced his decision to retire from politics at
8829-474: The issue as "vexed" and unresolved. Others went further, fearful that Shorten would not "free Labor from the union shackles that too often oppose sensible reforms," in the words of the Sun-Herald . "Mr Shorten still remains more union boss than potential prime minister," concluded the Sunday Telegraph . Shorten, the Sunday Herald Sun concurred, "is not a man to stand up to militant unions." On
8938-441: The law should be changed to allow assisted death. Today in many countries there is a shortage of hospital space. Medical personnel and hospital beds could be used for people whose lives could be saved instead of continuing the lives of those who want to die, thus increasing the general quality of care and shortening hospital waiting lists. It is a burden to keep people alive past the point they can contribute to society, especially if
9047-418: The law. In 2003 Hemlock was merged with End of Life Choices, which changed its name to Compassion and Choices. In 1990, Dr. Jack Kevorkian , a Michigan physician, became famous for educating and assisting people in committing physician-assisted suicide, which resulted in a Michigan law against the practice in 1992. Kevorkian was tried and convicted in 1999 for a murder displayed on television. Also in 1990,
9156-555: The legalization of euthanasia. In 1937, doctor-assisted euthanasia was declared legal in Switzerland as long as the doctor ending the life had nothing to gain. During this same era, US courts tackled cases involving critically ill people who requested physician assistance in dying as well as "mercy killings", such as by parents of their severely disabled children. During the post-war period, prominent proponents of euthanasia included Glanville Williams ( The Sanctity of Life and
9265-537: The line preferences to be formal, catering for people who confuse the above and below the line instructions. Antony Green, a psephologist for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, wrote several publications on various aspects of the proposed Senate changes. As with every double dissolution election the entire Senate is re-elected (12 seats per state rather than the usual half Senate election of six seats per state). Consequently,
9374-662: The merger made sense for Reason as they did not have a branch in NSW, where VEP was well established. The Victorian branch was voluntarily de-registered with the Victorian Electoral Commission in July 2020. The federal party was the last to de-register, voluntarily de-registering in March 2021. Professor Ranjan Ray, former President of the Western Australia Voluntary Euthanasia Society, was the first convenor of
9483-595: The modern era of euthanasia. In 1828, the first known anti-euthanasia law in the United States was passed in the state of New York, with many other localities and states following suit over a period of several years. After the Civil War, voluntary euthanasia was promoted by advocates, including some doctors. Support peaked around the start of the 20th century in the US and then grew again in the 1930s. In an article in
9592-400: The number of votes required to earn a seat (the "quota") is halved. Due to the abolition of GVTs, it is no longer possible to create "calculators" that assess, with reasonable accuracy, the eventual senate election outcome. Therefore, according to Antony Green, "my working guide is that if a party has more than 0.5 of a quota, it will be in the race for one of the final seats." His calculation of
9701-596: The one-term incumbent Coalition government was reelected with a reduced 76 seats, marking the first time since 2004 that a government had been reelected with an absolute majority. Labor picked up a significant number of previously government-held seats for a total of 69 seats, recovering much of what it had lost in its severe defeat of 2013 . On the crossbench, the Greens , the Nick Xenophon Team , Katter's Australian Party , and independents Wilkie and McGowan won
9810-428: The outdated politics of class comes from a once-reforming centre-left party which has refused to free itself from ... trade union and factional control," the editorial ran. "Mr Shorten's populist pitch echoes some of the global political phenomenon represented by Brexit and Donald Trump by exciting a squabble over shares of a declining income pie." The Australian endorsed the Coalition the following day, highlighting
9919-535: The patient self-administers. The VEP participated in six Australian elections. They did not win any seats, though increased their percentage of votes at each re-contested election. The VEP nominated seven candidates at the 2013 Australian federal election : six candidates for the Senate (two each in New South Wales, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory); and a candidate for
10028-605: The percentage of primary-vote required for the first six full- and half-quotas at this election is as follows: In its pre-election editorial endorsements, the press overwhelmingly backed the Coalition over Labor—only the Sunday edition of the Melbourne Age plumped for the Opposition. Among the Sunday papers, Turnbull was preferred by Sydney's Sun-Herald and Sunday Telegraph , Melbourne's Sunday Herald Sun ,
10137-484: The places become vacant. Since the normal terms of half the senators would have ended on 30 June 2017, the writs for a half-Senate election could not be issued earlier than 1 July 2016, and the earliest possible date for a simultaneous House/half-Senate election would have been 6 August 2016. There is no constitutional requirement for simultaneous elections for the Senate and the House of Representatives, and there are precedents for separate elections; however, governments and
10246-440: The primary vote and had to rely on preferences. Zimmerman faced a double-digit primary vote swing—more than triple that of the 2015 Canning by-election—despite the absence of a Labor candidate. Labor has never been successful in the safe Liberal seat. The Liberal two-candidate vote of 60.2% against independent Stephen Ruff compares with the previous election vote of 65.9% against Labor. The reduction of 5.7 points cannot be considered
10355-454: The public or private health system and at times at their own financial costs. Furthermore, according to The RAGCP more than $ 38 billion is spent on people with chronic health conditions a year. Examples of health conditions that require further assessment before granting the VAD procedure include, respiratory diseases such as cardiovascular disease which is a common cause of death among people over
10464-402: The resources used could be spent on a curable ailment. Critics argue that voluntary euthanasia could unduly compromise the professional roles of health care employees, especially doctors. They point out that European physicians of previous centuries traditionally swore some variation of the Hippocratic Oath , which in its ancient form excluded euthanasia: "To please no one will I prescribe
10573-490: The results revealed a reduced plurality of 30 seats for the Coalition, 26 for Labor, and a record 20 for crossbenchers including 9 Greens, 4 from One Nation and 3 from the Xenophon Team. Former broadcaster and Justice Party founder Derryn Hinch won a seat, while Jacqui Lambie , Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm and Family First 's Bob Day retained theirs. The Coalition will require nine additional votes for
10682-509: The seat for Labor. On 21 July 2015, Liberal Don Randall died, triggering the 2015 Canning by-election , which was held on 19 September. Andrew Hastie retained the seat for the Liberal Party, having to rely on preferences after suffering a substantial swing to the Labor candidate. Joe Hockey was not retained as Treasurer in the Turnbull Ministry , and announced his resignation from Parliament shortly afterwards, triggering
10791-409: The south-east areas of metropolitan Perth. The Division of Fraser in the ACT was renamed Division of Fenner , to honour the late scientist Frank Fenner . The AEC announced that the name Fraser would be used for a future division in Victoria, named in honour of Malcolm Fraser , a former Prime Minister. Following the previous election, the Abbott government announced it would investigate changing
10900-521: The top 21 places. In 2019, the New South Wales branch voted to become the branch of the Reason Party in that state, while the Victorian branch voluntarily de-registered in 2020 following that state's implementation of assisted suicide laws . In late 2022, the NSW branch of Reason changed its name to the Public Education Party. No explanation was publicly given for the name change. Voluntary euthanasia Voluntary euthanasia
11009-613: The way for legal protection of voluntary passive euthanasia. In 1977, California legalized living wills and other states soon followed suit. In 1980 the Hemlock Society USA was founded in Santa Monica by Derek Humphry . It was the first group in the United States to provide information to the terminally ill in case they wanted a hastened death. Hemlock also campaigned and partially financed drives to reform
11118-427: Was a double dissolution election held on Saturday 2 July to elect all 226 members of the 45th Parliament of Australia , after an extended eight-week official campaign period. It was the first double dissolution election since the 1987 election and the first under a new voting system for the Senate that replaced group voting tickets with optional preferential voting . In the 150-seat House of Representatives,
11227-458: Was an 'Independent for Voluntary Euthanasia' candidate in 1997 , before Nitschke led the 'Independent Voluntary Euthanasia' legislative council ticket in 2002 . 'Independent Christians for Voluntary Euthanasia' both contested the 2010 election , and 'Independent Legalise Voluntary Euthanasia' ran in 2014 . The party was founded in 2013 to bring attention to the need for voluntary assisted dying law reform and to bring together advocates from
11336-543: Was approved in Belgium . Belgium's at the time most famous author Hugo Claus , suffering from Alzheimer's disease , was among those that asked for euthanasia. He died in March 2008, assisted by an Antwerp doctor. A key turning point in the debate over voluntary euthanasia (and physician assisted dying), at least in the United States, was the public furor over the Karen Ann Quinlan case . The Quinlan case paved
11445-525: Was emphasised by the Perth Sunday Times and Adelaide Sunday Mail : at that time both states faced an uncertain future due to recent downturns in mining, steelmaking and shipbuilding. The expectation that any Labor government would govern in minority gave the Mail pause. Australia, it wrote, "needs stability ... this country has suffered enough through balance-of-power ... politicians". Both backed
11554-478: Was granted the right to refuse sustenance and be allowed to die. The Supreme Court of Western Australia ruled that it was up to Christian Rossiter, aged 49, to decide if he was to continue to receive medical care (tube feeding) and that his carers had to abide by his wishes. Chief Justice Wayne Martin also stipulated that his carers, Brightwater Care, would not be held criminally responsible for following his instructions. Rossiter died on 21 September 2009 following
11663-682: Was held on 5 April 2014. Senator John Madigan resigned from the Democratic Labour Party and became an independent Senator in September 2014, citing long-term internal party tensions. On 24 November 2014, Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie resigned from the Palmer United Party and on 13 March 2015, Queensland Senator Glenn Lazarus also announced his resignation from the Palmer United Party; both then sat as independents. On 14 September 2015,
11772-689: Was initially limited to persons whose death was "reasonable foreseeable", however the law was amended in 2021 to include persons who had a grievous, irremediable and irreversible medical condition, even if it is not fatal or terminal. An exclusion currently exists for persons whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness. Since World War II , the debate over euthanasia in Western countries has centered on voluntary euthanasia within regulated health care systems. In some cases, judicial decisions, legislation, and regulations have made voluntary euthanasia an explicit option for patients and their guardians. Proponents of voluntary euthanasia emphasize that choice
11881-736: Was made more compact and pushed well to the south, taking in some heavily Labor territory that had previously been in Hunter and Newcastle . This had the effect of erasing the Liberals' majority in Paterson; Labor now had a notional majority of 0.5 per cent. The new seat created in Western Australia was the Division of Burt , named after the Burt family, specifically Sir Archibald Burt , Septimus Burt and Sir Francis Burt and centred on
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