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When I toured Australia last July, euthanasia legalization threats were pending or threatened in the parliaments of Western Australia, Southern Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, and perhaps most worryingly, Tasmania. So far, all have been defeated or are not an immediate likelihood. There was also a national election ongoing during my two weeks there, and the winner in an extremely close race was the sitting PM, Julia Gillard.
During the time I was there, I learned that Gillard is an open atheist, that she lives with her hairdresser boyfriend, and that she came out of the left wing of the Labour Party. I only bring the atheism and apparent social liberalism up because we are often told by euthanasia proponents that only right wing religious fundamentalists oppose legalizing euthanasia–which has never been true, but it sometimes works as an advocacy approach, such as in the Netherlands. (Only religious fundamentalists oppose, so to prove you are not a religious fundamentalist, you had better support.)
But that meme won’t hunt Down-Under now that Gillard has concluded she does not want a law legalizing euthanasia. From an editorial in The Australian:
On euthanasia, Ms Gillard was sympathetic to those people who “may want that choice”. But she rejected the argument. She had “never been able to satisfy myself” that the policy of the pro-euthanasia advocates contained “sufficient safeguards”. Her concern is that euthanasia laws “open the door to exploitation and perhaps callousness towards people in the end stage of life.” It is an important comment. At a time when support for euthanasia is growing in some state ALP governments, Ms Gillard has sounded a clear warning against it.
The Greens are the driving force behind euthanasia in Australia. Labour and the Greens are in coalition nationally and in Tasmania. Julia Gillard is standing in their way on this issue. Good for her.
(The video above is one of the funniest political “register and vote” ads I have ever seen, and I have been waiting for an excuse to share it with SHSers. The guy Gillard “kills” with a martial arts weapon in the alley is Kevin Rudd, the former OZ PM, who she pushed out in a Labour Party coup just before the election. “Tiny” is the nickname of her conservative opponent, Tony Abbott, the leader of the more conservative Liberal Party. They ended up in a dead heat, and Gillard successfully put together a minority coalition government to stay in power. Bob Brown, as I recall, is the head Green.)
March 20th, 2011 | 8:12 pm
Wesley, sounds to me like Julia Gillard by rejecting both euthanasia and same-sex marriage shows that she’s a pretty smart political cookie indeed.
It reminds me of when I wrote to our now Canadian Prime Minister who was down about 38% in the poles telling him in so many words that if there was really a God in Heaven, he would be our new Prime Minister because at the time, he was the only one who was speaking out against same-sex-marriages.
I hear ya! It’s ok to brake promises in order to keep Canada in “ONE” piece! Don’t you think? Besides I’m not really sure what you’re talking about Victor! Are you talking about Harper’s Bible Commentary?
Forget Bout “IT” Wesley but be nice and see what you can do to get these Australian Video Clips to work so I can learn a little more about this lady. OK? :)
God Bless Peace
HCM Reply:
March 21st, 2011 at 5:46 am
@Victor,
Victor: Would you rather reduce the LGBT suicide rate, or have gay marriage remain illegal?
Because legalising gay marriage would help reduce the LGBT suicide rate.
Dblade Reply:
March 21st, 2011 at 12:54 pm
@HCM, I dont think this is the case at all. The right answer to suicide is counseling, and of all the causes, not being able to get married formally is probably one of the lowest down the list as opposed to bullying, general mental issues like depression, etc.
That’s like saying we should legalize assisted suicide because it might be driving some poor member of the hemlock society to drink.
HCM Reply:
March 22nd, 2011 at 1:28 am
@Dblade,
Dblade: Wow, blaming the victims. I guess I shouldn’t really be surprised.
Would you use the same argument to oppose the abolition of slavery?
March 21st, 2011 | 5:44 am
Only a referendum or brave politicians are required to legalise assisted dying.
March 21st, 2011 | 7:13 am
Wesley, sounds to me like Julia Gillard by rejecting both euthanasia and same-sex marriage shows that she’s a pretty smart political cookie indeed.
It is possible to make all the “Religious Right” arguments from a purely secular standpoint.
The key recognition is the realization that the secular arguments are built on some really shaky assumptions – assumptions that are not really compatible, deep down, with the founding premises upon which this nation’s legitimacy is derived.
Most importantly, that “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…”
The secular arguments that are vulnerable are the ones that rely on justifications re: why some pigs are more equal than others – euthanasia, gay marriage, and abortion being three of the most obvious.
March 21st, 2011 | 10:18 am
I hear ya! It’s ok to brake promises in order to keep Canada in “ONE” piece! Don’t you think? Besides I’m not really sure what you’re talking about Victor! Are you talking about Harper’s Bible Commentary?
March 21st, 2011 | 11:21 am
Wesley:
Does anyone know Gillard’s position on assisted suicide? I’ve searched the Internet and haven’t yet found a specific statement by her on the subject. However, her government has rejected an Internet censorship proposal that would have suppressed publication of online “how-to” manuals. Do you have any other information?
HW
March 21st, 2011 | 11:52 am
Marlboro sounds like you’re blowing holy smoke and I’m not sure if Mrs Smokette might enjoy “IT” but then again, there’s all kinds of brands circling our blogs, I mean globe nowadays!
I hear ya Wesley! Spam comments are not allowed here Victor but on occasions, I do miss the odd ones if you know what I mean? :)
Peace
March 24th, 2011 | 3:26 am
Love the video Wesley, thanks a trillion. :)
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