Dr Brian Owler and the Victorian Ministerial Advisory panel have today set the Victorian Government on a course of legalising assisted suicide which will be a threat to the most vulnerable in our community – the disabled, aged and the terminally ill.

Claims by former Victorian Premier Steve Bracks that state-sanctioned assisted suicide can be made safe defy the frightening reality that where it is legal, the vulnerable are being killed against their will, warns the Australian Christian Lobby.

The Victorian Government should drop its plans to introduce state-sanctioned assisted suicide following fresh concerns raised by St Vincent’s that it could not take part in the killing of patients. 

Any person over age 75 will be able to receive euthanasia - even when perfectly healthy - under proposed law in the Netherlands, as Dutch doctors warn that euthanasia is ‘getting out of hand’.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:11.

Suicide on demand seems to be the real public policy goal of Australia’s most famous euthanasia activist, Dr Philip Nitschke, following his response to a triple suicide of a non-terminally ill family on the Gold Coast.

The Australian Christian Lobby has called on Labor MPs to resist calls for an inquiry into legislating for state-sanctioned assisted suicide when the Labor caucus meets next week.

On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Australian Christian Lobby has called on the Victorian Government to resist calls to provide for state-sanctioned assisted suicide in the face of startling figures of elder abuse.

Today, June 15, is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It serves as a sad reminder that in many societies, including our own, people of advanced years often experience mistreatment at the hands of those entrusted to care for them.

The Australian Christian Lobby thanks Tasmania’s parliamentarians for voting today 16 to 8 against a dangerous euthanasia bill that would have given access to assisted suicide to those suffering from non-terminal illnesses, such as chronic arthritis or disabilities.