Labor Party Position:

No Labor members have answered the questionnaire. In November 2017 Labor Minister Kyam Maher promised to introduce another euthanasia bill after the election. The Premier also supported euthanasia when it was before Parliament in November 2017.  

 

The Labor MPs who voted for euthanasia in 2017 were:

Member for Cheltenham and Premier, Jay Weatherill

Member for Florey, Frances Bedford

Member for Mawson, Leon Bignell

Member for Colton, Paul Caica

Member for Port Adelaide, Susan Close

Member for Fisher, Nat Cook

Member for Elder, Annabel Digance

Member for Napier, Jon Gee

Member for Reynell, Katrine Hildyard

Member for Giles, Eddie Hughes

Member for Ashford, Steph Key

Member for Lee, Stephen Mullighan

Member for Little Para, Lee Odenwalder

Member for Kaurna, Chris Picton

Member for Torrens, Dana Wortley.

 

The Labor MPS who voted against euthanasia in 2017 were:

Member for Ramsay, Zoe Bettison

Member for Newland, Tom Kenyon

Member for West Torrens, Tom Koutsantonis

Member for Light, Tony Piccolo

Member for Playford, Jack Snelling

Member for Wright, Jennifer Rankine

Member for Enfield, John Rau

Member for Taylor, Leesa Vlahos

 

SA Best Position:

There has been only one response from an SA Best candidate. That response advised there is no party policy on this as yet.

 

The Greens Position:

No SA Greens candidate has answered the questionnaire. The Greens policy is:

The Greens SA want:

People diagnosed with a terminal illness to be able to die with dignity

Adults to be able to choose their own care and treatment for a terminal illness

Hospitals and doctors to be able to support people in their choice of treatments without compunction

The Greens SA will initiate and support legislation that allows for voluntary euthanasia or physician assisted dying in strictly limited situations, where the following conditions are satisfied:

 

The applicant is a mentally competent adult (18 years or older)

The person with the terminal illness must, at the time of application and at all later stages in the process, be currently experiencing pain or suffering associated with that terminal illness

The relevant law must set out each and every one of the protections outlined below to establish that the application is voluntary and remains so throughout the process

The relevant law will only be available to someone who is confirmed by two separate, independent medical practitioners as being in the final stages of a terminal illness

The Greens SA will introduce and support legislation that will:

Allow a terminally ill adult to end their life with the help of an approved medical professional after being fully informed of the likely progress of the terminal illness, forms of practically available evidence-based treatment and the possible side-effects, benefits and outcomes

Ensure that the applicant, by reason of pain or suffering associated with a terminal illness, truly wishes to end their life and has not been pressured into their decision by others, or has made the request as consequence of a mental disorder

Ensure that the applicant is made aware that the approved medical professional to whom the request is made may refuse the request, in which case the applicant may approach a different approved medical professional

Ensure that the applicant has been provided with levels of care, physical support and psychological support that are appropriate to their circumstances

Ensure that the applicant has attempted all practically available evidence-based treatments and pain management measures, including where relevant, psychological support

Limit the application of the legislation to South Australian residents

Ensure that, when acting in compliance with the legislation, the applicant and any person who deals with or gives effect to a request does not incur any criminal or civil liability and is not liable to any disciplinary proceeding

Protect the right of medical professionals or other medical staff to not be involved in any aspect of voluntary euthanasia unless they choose to

Support increases in funding and support for palliative care, including both local hospice and home-based care