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An empty chair, a missing Premier - a poignant metaphor

By Paul Russell - posted Wednesday, 12 April 2017


Readers will instantly understand that the Premier is an important figure in such debates having the 'yeah or nay' on what is debated in the parliament and what debate time is allocated. Moreso for Daniel Andrews in this instance because the move towards an assisted suicide bill expected to be introduced later this year was his call, with his endorsement and his support.

How can any polity make such grave decisions about life and death without hearing the concerns of communities who have skin in the game? A 'head-in-the-sand' attitude or a claim to be 'too busy' or worse, apathy or prejudice further marginalises those whose life experience is often precisely about marginalisation, discrimination, lack of opportunity and not being listened to. Again, as Liz observes:

Legislation is therefore unsafe already, because not everybody already starts out as having equal value under the law or in the medical profession or in public perception. I remember Stella Young talking about this a lot: can we have death with dignity, until we have dignity in life?

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In Australia where every major infrastructure project requires an extensive (and expensive) environmental impact study that underpins development with assurances that our flora and fauna, waterways etc. are protected from harm, isn't it only reasonable that any threat to human life and flourishing be treated with equal or greater weight? Isn't it just and proper that we consider the risk; any risk of wrongful death a bridge-too-far just as we did when we banned capital punishment?

Legislation is always about winners and losers; about those who benefit and those who might be disadvantaged; but rarely is the disadvantage so severe as to be about life itself.

And so the empty chair remains as a powerful and poignant metaphor. Not good enough Mr. Andrews! Go looking for the 'small voices' and not simply the squeakiest of wheels. That's a different story and one that must be heard.

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This article was first published on Hope.



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About the Author

Paul Russell is the Director of HOPE: preventing euthanasia & assisted suicide www.noeuthanasia.org.au.


Paul is also Vice Chair of the International Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Paul Russell

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