WIMMERA residents have been targeted by a Melbourne group that wants assisted dying to remain illegal in Victoria.
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The East Brunswick-based Right to Life Australia group has distributed pamphlets in Ararat and Stawell urging people opposed to assisted dying to call Member for Ripon Louise Staley.
“Do you believe in suicide prevention or suicide assistance from your doctor?” the pamphlets stated.
“You can stop this – contact your MP today.
“Remember the life you save might be your own.”
Premier Daniel Andrews is planning to introduce legislation that will allow assisted dying for consenting adults with later-stage terminal illnesses.
Grampians web developer Thomas Parkes, who supports legalising assisted dying, said the pamphlets were misleading.
“I'll decide when to die, and the manner in which I die,” he said.
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said while the pamphlets had not been distributed in her electorate, euthanasia was an issue that many people were passionate about.
“I’ve received a lot of emails about euthanasia and there are people on both sides of the argument that feel strongly about it,” she said.
“Some people are strongly against it, but then when you dig down further, there is a level of support for palliative care.
“I’ve also heard from others who are very supportive of giving people a greater choice.
“A whole spectrum of views are being covered and many people have emotive reasons behind their decisions, whether it is from personal experiences or religious views.”
Ms Kealy said she would not make a decision about euthanasia until she had read the legislation.
“That’s not just with this issue, regardless of the topic, you need to have the information first before you can make a decision,” she said.
Right to Life Australia president Margaret Tighe, who organised the pamphlets, said the group was opposed to people taking their own lives in any circumstances.
“The reason that we have distributed these letters is to educate people about the reality of what the government is proposing,” she said.
“We are trying to wake people up to the fact that once you legalise this sort of thing, it escalates.”