Labor MP Margaret Quirk attacks WA voluntary euthanasia bill as debate begins in Parliament

29th August 2019

Labor MP Margaret Quirk has strongly denounced Western Australia’s proposed voluntary euthanasia laws, attacking her own Government’s consultation process and describing it as running up a “white flag” on palliative care.

Her comments came on the second day of passionate debate over the new voluntary assisted dying (VAD) bill after it was introduced into the Lower House yesterday.

Ms Quirk, who described herself as an “imperfect Catholic” during her speech to State Parliament, rejected the idea that anyone who opposed giving terminally ill people the right to end their lives lacked compassion.

The former minister is one of several Labor parliamentarians expected to vote against the change, despite the overwhelming number of MPs on both sides in the Legislative Assembly indicating they will support the proposal.

“Members, the passing of this bill is akin to unfurling the white flag of surrender,” Ms Quirk said.

“In waving that white flag we are conceding we cannot marshal the considerable resources in our health system to allow those with a terminal illness to enjoy a quality of life in their remaining time.”

She challenged Health Minister Roger Cook’s comment in Parliament that the bill did not amount to euthanasia, pointing out the head of the Government’s advisory panel, Malcolm McCusker, had said the term was not used because of its negative connotations.

Ms Quirk added that during the consultation process, comment was not wanted from people who opposed the laws, which were presented as a fait accompli, and she said many of the so-called safeguards were nothing more than eligibility criteria.

“By giving up, we consign the vulnerable, depressed, the mentally-ill and the socially isolated to the risk of coercion or — worse still — that they feel that they have no choice but to accede to an early and untimely death,” she said.

The Girraween MP also criticised $41 million in funding for palliative care provided in the May state budget as far too little, some of which she said was previously announced money and some which would be used to implement the voluntary assisted dying laws.

Premier’s plea opens debate

Premier Mark McGowan began the debate on the contentious legislation in the Legislative Assembly yesterday with a plea to MPs to end the pain and suffering endured by many people at the end of their lives.

He said the legislation had been years in the making and the issue needed to be resolved.

“It is not a choice between life and death. It is a choice about the manner in which death will occur,” he said.

Photo: WA Premier Mark McGowan introduces the new voluntary euthanasia law into Parliament. (ABC News: Manny Tesconi)

Mr McGowan urged politicians on all sides to do the right thing ethically and morally and give people the option of a compassionate end by supporting the bill.

He told Parliament inaction had consequences.

“Staying with the status quo has a cost,” he said.

“How many more West Australians need to witness their loves ones suffer without relief? How many more family members need to come home to discover the person they loved and are caring for has ended their own life horribly and painfully?”

The WA bill is largely based on the model in Victoria, which legalised voluntary assisted dying in November, 2017.

Under the proposed WA legislation, a person would have to be terminally ill with a condition that is causing intolerable suffering and is likely to cause death within six months or 12 months for a neurodegenerative condition.

Emotional Harvey recalls husband’s struggle

Opposition Leader Liza Harvey told the very personal story of her late husband Hal’s death, as she set out her concerns over aspects of the proposed law.

Breaking down several times at the emotion of the occasion, Ms Harvey — who said she was yet to decide how she would vote — told Parliament the VAD debate had caused significant pain for her family.

She said it has been very difficult when photos of her husband had appeared in the media.

“It still brings the sense of loss to the fore, no matter how much warning is given,” she said.

Photo: Liza Harvey believes the Government has demonised people who are against the proposed laws. (ABC News: Benjamin Gubana)

“I can only ask for their [family members’] forgiveness and thank them for their understanding of the difficulties being related to a Member of Parliament.”

Hal Harvey was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June 2011 and died three years later.

Ms Harvey said after the diagnosis he initially became depressed and did not want to undergo chemotherapy or other treatment.

He also told her he wanted to go to Switzerland to access voluntary euthanasia.

She convinced him to see a psychologist instead, after which he started receiving treatment and lived until 2014.

Ms Harvey said one of her big concerns with the legislation was that people did not need to have a mental health assessment first.

“My fear in not having the requirement for a mental health assessment included in the legislation is that, using our family as an example, we would not have had those three years of memories with our children,” she said.

Ms Harvey said she was not happy with the way the Government had handled the legislation, saying they had demonised anyone who was against it.

She was also critical of the looming late night sittings in Parliament in the coming weeks as each MP presented their view.

“I think it is rushed,” she said. “What’s the hurry for this?”

Some support coming from both sides

The Opposition’s health spokesman Zak Kirkup, who was the Liberals’ lead speaker on the bill, said he would support it.

After speaking to thousands of people in his electorate, he said more than 83 per cent wanted VAD legislation established in WA.

But he said he wanted reassurance there would be enough funding for palliative care and that there were strict controls over the dispensation of the substance given to people to end their lives.

He also wanted to ensure Indigenous people and those in remote and regional areas could access VAD.

“We must strive to ensure that citizens are not disadvantaged because of their cultural background, because of their socio-economic status or simply because they’ve chosen to live outside our capital,” Mr Kirkup said.