At a time when there are new euthanasia cases aplenty on both sides of the Tasman, Victoria’s State Parliament has decided to debate the issue of voluntary euthanasia.  In Australia, it tends to be the Greens who have the running on this issue, given that Peter Singer, the architect of philosophical arguments for animal rights, and a proponent of voluntary euthanasia, is one of their leading members.

Anyway, the Australian Greens are making a play to repeal the Howard era anti-euthanasia laws that were introduced to override the Northern Territory’s bid to decriminalise the practice. Under Australia’s federal constitution, the federal government can do that to the Northern and Australian Capital Territories. Given that Bob Brown, the Australian Greens leader, is an out gay man himself, it seems an odd choice, but still…

Victorian Green Legislative Councillor (Upper House- C) Colleen Heartland will be the one to try to introduce the bill into that chamber, although it is widely expected to have a stormy passage. The conservative Catholic Democratic Labor Party has a seat up there, and is expected to raise a ruckus about the issue. Victorian ALP Premier Steve Brumby opposes it, although Victorian Liberal leader Ted Bailleau apparently supports it.  At the federal level, Australian PM Kevin Rudd opposes reinstatement of the Northern Territory’s voluntary euthanasia legislation, so we’ll have to see.

(My own feeling is that given the opposition of the influential Australian Medical Association and ALP, it will be difficult for any such state or federal legislation to make headway. Still, it’ll be most interesting to see what happens in this context.

“MPs to Debate Euthanasia Bill” Melbourne Herald-Sun 28.05.08: http://www.news.com.au