Daily Archives: February 6, 2021

MPs have drawn up a list of controversial subjects which remain out of bounds to parliament until a new cabinet has been appointed after the March 17 general election.

The list has been drawn up earlier than usual because the current coalition is already acting in a caretaker capacity after resigning last month in the wake of the childcare benefit scandal.

The list includes opening Lelystad airport to commercial traffic, increasing paid parental leave, further limits to public sector pay and broad subjects such as climate.

Asylum issues, including tackling troublemakers and bringing in some refugees from camps on the Greek islands, have also been declared controversial.

Efforts to establish euthanasia rights for the elderly who are tired of life will also now be put on the backburner.

The idea of the list is to stop an outgoing government forcing unpopular or difficult measures through parliament at the last minute.

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Lelystad airport, refugees and euthanasia on MPs' list of controversial subjects - DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl

Queensland MPs are set to vote on sweeping euthanasia legislation this year, after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made it a key election pledge.

The Courier-Mail went to all MPs for comment to seek their view on the issue, as they await draft legislation from the Queensland Law Reform Commission which is due by May.

See what your MP had to say in response to the following questions: Do you support voluntary assisted dying? Will you vote in favour of voluntary assisted dying when the legislation comes before the parliament?

See where your local MP stands on this sensitive issue.

"We won't be making any decisions until we see the new Bill. I can't make an informed decision without it (the legislation)."

"I am in favour of voluntary assisted dying with appropriate safeguards, which I am confident can be achieved as has happened elsewhere. It is an issue of choice and compassion for people with terminal illnesses, and these people should have a choice about their own lives if they are in intolerable pain or no longer have any quality of life."

Member for Mudgeeraba Ros Bates

"Voluntary assisted dying is a sensitive issue for all Queenslanders. LNP MPs are right now listening to the people they represent, the people they'll vote for. They're also waiting to see the legislation so they know exactly what they are voting on. Queenslanders would expect nothing less. Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli has already granted all members of the party a conscience vote."

His office referred to a statement from an LNP spokesman that said:

"Voluntary assisted dying is a sensitive issue for all Queenslanders. LNP MPs are right now listening to the people they represent, the people they'll vote for. They're also waiting to see the legislation so they know exactly what they are voting on. Queenslanders would expect nothing less. Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli has already granted all members of the party a conscience vote."

Member for Maiwar Michael Berkman

"Yes. The Greens long standing position is to support voluntary assisted dying. The government has not yet released the legislation, but I support voluntary assisted dying subject to safeguards as recommended by the Parliamentary Health Committee and consistent with the Bill proposed by Professors White and Wilmott of QUT."

"Voluntary assisted dying is a sensitive issue for all Queenslanders. LNP MPs are right now listening to the people they represent, the people they'll vote for. They're also waiting to see the legislation so they know exactly what they are voting on. Queenslanders would expect nothing less. Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli has already granted all members of the party a conscience vote."

"As an MP my job is to represent my community, not any personal beliefs. In annual surveys undertaken by myself, or the previous MP, an overwhelming number of Noosa respondents support VAD, and I had advocated for the inquiry. It is vital that issues important to Queenslanders are brought into Chamber for all voices to be heard, both for (and) against."

Will you vote in favour of voluntary assisted dying when the legislation comes before the parliament? "Yes, however given we have not seen the draft Bill, if there is any part that raises major concerns and is not addressed, I may ask or support amendments."

"Voluntary assisted dying is a sensitive issue for all Queenslanders. LNP MPs are right now listening to the people they represent, the people they'll vote for. They're also waiting to see the legislation so they know exactly what they are voting on. Queenslanders would expect nothing less. Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli has already granted all members of the party a conscience vote."

Member for Callide Colin Boyce

Did not respond.

"Yes".

"Yes".

"Yes. I believe terminally ill people should have the right to end their life on their own terms - if that's what they choose to do. I've reviewed the Parliamentary Committee report on voluntary assisted dying, including excerpts from the 4,719 written submissions the committee received which outlined a very clear and urgent need for this reform. Naturally, I have some questions around eligibility, the training for those involved and what safeguards will be in place to ensure these decisions are truly voluntary - but I hope (and expect) these will be addressed in the upcoming report from the Queensland Law Reform Commission. We need a legal framework that's compassionate, safe and practical for Queenslanders, and I'm sure that's what the QLRC will deliver.

"While I have a personal view on the legalisation of voluntary assisted dying, I also strongly believe that I was elected to represent the views of those living in Cooper. We are currently speaking with people in my electorate about this issue and canvassing their views on how they'd like me to vote. We have an active survey we're encouraging people to respond to (available via my social media), in addition to having conversations with people while we're doorknocking and during mobile offices. At this point, there appears to be strong support from our local community. Cooper residents are invited to contact me to share their view on this important issue."

Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher

"This reform is something I am more than happy to support, as I did during the election, and the Government intends to introduce this piece of legislation in late May 2021.

"People have seen their loved ones laying in a palliative care bed, gasping for breath, and terminally ill, knowing their life is going to end. They're going through it in a dreadful and painful way, and the family got to sit there and watch them suffer for days, and sometimes weeks. I'm proud to be a part of the Palaszczuk Government that has taken a very considered and conscientious approach to taking community consultation before drafting the legislation. I will await the draft legislation from the Queensland Law Reform Commission and any committee recommendations that may follow. I will vote according to my conscience after listening to my community."

"Voluntary assisted dying is a sensitive issue for all Queenslanders. LNP MPs are right now listening to the people they represent, the people they'll vote for. They're also waiting to see the legislation, so they know exactly what they are voting on. Queenslanders would expect nothing less. Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli has already granted all members of the party a conscience vote."

"Voluntary assisted dying is a sensitive issue for all Queenslanders and I'm listening to the people I represent. I'm also waiting to see the legislation, so I know exactly what I'm voting on - my constituents would expect nothing less. The Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli has already granted me and all members of the party a conscience vote."

"I support Voluntary Assisted Dying as an option for people who enter a stage in life when this option becomes a serious consideration. It is very complex and deeply personal issue and I appreciate the Premier's decision to allow all MPs to cast a conscience vote on the issue when the time comes for draft legislation to be examined."

Opposition Leader and Member for Broadwater David Crisafulli

"Voluntary assisted dying is a sensitive issue for all Queenslanders. LNP MPs are right now listening to the people they represent, the people they'll vote for. They're also waiting to see the legislation so they know exactly what they are voting on. Queenslanders would expect nothing less. I have granted all members of the party a conscience vote."

"In principle I support voluntary assisted dying and I'll be looking closely at the legislation before making a decision."

"I do not support euthanasia on a moral basis. I believe that we should be doing all we can to protect and preserve life. I believe there should be more State and Federal investment in palliative care as a more ethical and humane option. I will not be voting for legislation that will legalise euthanasia in Queensland."

"I look forward to seeing the draft legislation from the QLRC and any subsequent committee recommendations. I support a conscience vote for all members of the parliament."

"I worked for many years supporting aged care workers before I was elected to Parliament. I saw workers pushed to the limit, I saw people who were desperately worried about their mum and dad; their grandparents and whether they were getting the care they needed, and I saw people suffer. I believe individuals and families should be empowered to consider all the options available in consultation with medical professionals, and that voluntary assisted dying should be one of those options. I'm committed, as part of the Palaszczuk Government, to tackling the big issues, and making the hard decisions, which is why our government will also invest $171 million into a new palliative care plan. That means more nurses, more resources and more care for individuals and families confronting these profoundly complex and personal journeys."

Member for Algester Leeanne Enoch

"Many of us, my family included, have watched loved ones face end of life challenges. It's heartbreaking, it's painful, and sometimes it confronts an individual's sense of dignity. More can be done to provide greater comfort for people approaching the end of their lives. Individuals and families should be empowered to consider all of the options available, in consultation with their medical professionals. I support voluntary assisted dying legislation."

"Voluntary assisted dying is a highly emotional issue for many Queenslanders. As the Member for Bulimba, I will carefully consider the draft legislation, any committee recommendations that may follow and the thoughts of my community."

"Voluntary assisted dying and other end of life choices are extremely complex and deeply personal decisions for every Queenslander and their loved ones to make. It is a choice that I believe every Queenslander should have the right to. That is why I support voluntary assisted dying and will be voting in favour of it when it comes before Parliament."

"As a local member I will listen to the people that I represent. There is no legislation currently before the parliament so there is no legislation or idea on what to vote on. I will wait to see the legislation so my community will know exactly what the legislation will include. My community would expect nothing less."

"I will await the draft legislation from the QLRC and any committee recommendations that may follow. I will vote according to my conscience after listening to my community."

"Voluntary assisted dying is a sensitive issue for all Queenslanders. I acknowledge that the experience of watching a loved-one struggle and succumb to a terminal illness is confronting and heart wrenching. All LNP MPs are right now listening to the people they represent. We are also waiting to see the legislation so we know exactly what we are voting on. Queenslanders would expect nothing less. Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli has already granted all members of the party a conscience vote."

"Voluntary Assisted Dying is a personal issue for my community with a lot of different opinions being voiced on the topic. People are wanting safe legislation that protects vulnerable people in our community while giving choice to people facing end of life. I am looking forward to reading the draft legislation and the committee report before I vote."

Member for McConnel Grace Grace

"I will be looking at the draft legislation when it's available and any report or recommendations the committee may make. I continue to listen to my community on this issue, as I have been, and I will vote according to my conscience and what my community is saying to me."

"Yes".

"Voluntary assisted dying is a sensitive issue for all Queenslanders. LNP MPs are right now listening to the people they represent, the people they'll vote for. They're also waiting to see the legislation so they know exactly what they are voting on. Queenslanders would expect nothing less. Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli has already granted all members of the party a conscience vote."

"Yes".

"While I look forward to reviewing the detail of the QLRC's draft legislation, my personal beliefs are such that I am predisposed to support VAD as an option for capable individuals to choose alongside quality palliative care."

Did not respond.

"Yes unequivocally, my experiences with the passing of both my parents has led me inescapably to the conclusion that the choice to decide how we pass from this world is absolutely vital. Both my late parents would have made very different choices on this matter and to me that dual approach demonstrated why the choice itself is so important."

Will you vote in favour of voluntary assisted dying? "Yes I will."

"Voluntary assisted dying is a sensitive issue for all Queenslanders. LNP MPs are right now listening to the people they represent, the people they'll vote for. They're also waiting to see the legislation so they know exactly what they are voting on. Queenslanders would expect nothing less. Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli has already granted all members of the party a conscience vote."

Member for Traeger Robbie Katter

"No, I do not support the euthanasia of human beings. With regards to end-of-life care, which can no doubt be a very difficult time for an individual and their loved ones, I would like to see greater State and Federal investment in the delivery of palliative care and careful reforms in this field wherever necessary. Furthermore I would like to encourage the Palaszczuk Labor Government to spend as much time on saving lives in Queensland as it does on devising social legislation designed to take lives. For example, the government should be preoccupying itself with investing in and fast-tracking the delivery of dialysis treatment, chemotherapy and CT scanners in all rural and regional hospitals.

See the original post:

MPs reveal how they will vote on voluntary assisted dying - Sunshine Coast Daily

Euthanasia

We read with interest the article Euthanasia the killing of mercy, by Tonio Fenech (January 27). We fully agree that compassion is sticking by the patient.

In our view, hastening death to end suffering and indignity, if that is what the person concerned clearly wishes, is indeed showing compassion and respect for them and in no way precludes sticking with and loving them for as long as they want, nor the opportunity to share forgiveness, give thanks and say goodbye.

We also agree with Fenechs let us debate if we must. That debate should happen now. For people such as Sam Debattista, who is asking society to show empathy and give her control over her life, justice delayed is justice denied.

Palliative care is, of course, the best choice for many and should be their right, if that is what they want.

We would never support pressure on anyone to opt for assisted dying if they are not in an emotional or psychological condition to make an informed, clear choice. Neither would we support euthanasia without an unambiguous prior indication of consent by the person concerned.

Assisted dying and euthanasia do not take away our control over our lives. Clearly, they do the opposite for those who believe they have a right to choose when to end their suffering.

If properly regulated, decisions would not move from the individual to their relatives, doctors etc. Strict controls should ensure that a patients explicit wishes are respected. In the absence of a recorded wish, there should be no authority to proceed. This is why we advocate the introduction of legally-binding advance directives, or living wills, so there is no question about anyones choices.

Finally, Fenech suggests that medicine would need to take a step back from research into more effective palliative care so that research can go towards more effective killing. We disagree; one does not replace the other and methods to help a person die peacefully and at their own request need far less research than yet further advances in palliative care.

Edward Gatt, Sliema, and Joanna Williams, Xagra members of the Malta Humanist Association

Objections filed against Burmarrad roundabout plans

Traffic calming plans? Traffic is already at a standstill at the moment, God knows what there will be in summer. Yes, we need something else to slow traffic on that stretch of road. Malcolm Sammut

Its Infrastructure Malta (Government) against the people. Drin Zerafa

IM and TM keep taking the public for a ride. The attitude is just we rule, you obey. The consultation process is just a fake exercise. The roadworks have created new hazards to the most vulnerable road users. Joe Mallia

While at it, can someone go and see what type of third-world country passageway residents in a block of apartments in Patri Pelaju Mifsud Street, ebbu have to make do with, just because some greedy gnome is opposing to works being carried out? Malcolm Mifsud

Has anyone noticed that the PN is conspicuous by its absence too when it comes to environmental protection? If it were not for some NGOs and some sections of the media, Maltas business tycoons would just trample over the population with no mercy. Patrizio Soluz

ERA stops illegal Dingli roadworks

Infrastructure Malta, the state agency tasked with upgrading Maltas road network, has 15 days from the notice to restore the site to its natural state.

Works were stopped last week by the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) after workers spilled some of the soil excavated for the new pipeline over the edge of the road, covering some roadside flora, he said. Unbelievable. A. Formosa

Oooops, Ian Borgs plans have hit a snag, a small one but a snag in any case! Paul Vella

Government institutions playing cat and mouse to justify their existence. V. Buhagiar

Letters to the editor should be sent to editor@timesofmalta.com. Please include your full name, address and ID card number. The editor may disclose personal information to any person or entity seeking legal action on the basis of a published letter.

Independent journalism costs money. Support Times of Malta for the price of a coffee.

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Letters to the editor - February 3, 2021 - Times of Malta

Alison Laurie.

I love my job, but sometimes being a vet can be extremely hard. Sadly, this past week I had to say farewell to a favourite patient of mine, who I have known for many years, writes vet Alison Laurie-Chalmers.

It is always a hard decision to let a much-loved pet go.

However, as vets, it is one of the most important duties that we must do for our patients care. Euthanasia, when necessary, is very much part of that lifelong patient care.

Making that decision to say a final goodbye and choosing euthanasia for your beloved pet can be one of the hardest and most difficult decisions you have to face as a pet owner.

But it can also be seen as the last positive, compassionate act that you can give your faithful companion at the end of their life, to relieve them of ongoing, end-stage illness, pain, or suffering. It may be a very necessary release and is a way to humanely, and with some dignity, end any suffering, in a pain-free, previously planned, carefully controlled and peaceful manner.

If you are considering euthanasia for your pet and you are wondering what is involved and whether to be present at the procedure, although difficult, if you can, it is helpful for you as the pet owner to take time to discuss beforehand the usual steps involved with your vet. A discussion prior to the time of euthanasia may help make the final saying goodbye a little less stressful.

It is entirely natural to feel distraught and upset when your pet passes. Do not be embarrassed about showing your emotions, your vet and vet support team will understand and they will expect you to be extremely upset. They will always help and support you during this sad time.

Losing a much-loved pet can be extremely hard to cope with. The emotion and pain of grief can feel overwhelming. This grief can lead to conflicting and confusing emotions, from shock, denial and disbelief to feelings of guilt and even anger. These emotions are quite normal and confirm the special bond between people and their pets.

It is particularly important to give yourself as much time as you need to grieve. You have lost a very special companion here, so missing them is quite natural. Unfortunately, not everyone understands this grief, so it can sometimes feel like a very lonely, depressing experience. Take time to talk things over with supportive friends and family and speak with your vet practice and the advised support networks. Your emotions here are quite natural, so do not feel ashamed or embarrassed of them. Try not to feel guilty, or to blame yourself. The decision for euthanasia is always a very carefully considered one and is always taken with your pets interests at heart and to avoid any further discomfort or suffering. It is important also to remember that, with time, grief eases and its intensity does fade.

For further information and advice on pet euthanasia, do contact your vet. We are here for you and do understand, and we are always here to help, support and listen.

Contact your vet to discuss the procedures in place at your vet practice during these difficult times.

Support is also available from the Pet Bereavement Support Service, a confidential support line open from 8.30am to 8.30pm on 08000 966 606.

Or if you prefer not to speak to anyone, their email support line is pbssmail@bluecross.org.uk

Alison Laurie-Chalmers is a senior consultant at Crown Vets in Inverness.

Go here to read the rest:

Vet Speak: Help is available when it's time to say goodbye - RossShire Journal

Right-wing Liberal backbencher Kevin Andrews the father of the House of Representatives has lost preselection to a barrister and former special forces veteran who served in Afghanistan.

Keith Wolahan, 43, defeated Andrews, 65, who held a number of portfolios in the Howard and Abbott governments, by 181 to 111 for the blue ribbon Victorian seat of Menzies, which Andrews has occupied since he won it at a byelection in 1991.

This was the first time in decades that a federal Liberal member has lost a preselection ballot in Victoria.

His defeat is a blow for the Liberal conservatives, who campaigned hard to shore him up, and will hearten the local Liberal critics of outspoken NSW right-winger Craig Kelly, who has been a thorn in the governments side over COVID and a hardliner on climate issues.

Kelly confirmed to The Conversation on Sunday night that he was seeking another term and was absolutely confident he would have Scott Morrisons support and that of all my colleagues.

Andrews has been a strongly conservative voice on issues ranging from euthanasia and abortion to climate change, and also a player in leadership battles. His last ministerial post was in the defence portfolio in the Abbott government, a job he lost when Malcolm Turnbull became leader.

In the Howard years Andrews introduced the private members bill that quashed the Northern Territorys euthanasia law.

Andrews had endorsements from Morrison, John Howard and Tony Abbott, as well as from a raft of ministerial colleagues, including the deputy Liberal leader Josh Frydenberg. In his letter of endorsement Morrison wrote that Andrews provides wise counsel to ministers and colleagues, including myself.

But the result shows that high profile endorsements dont always impress locals the Menzies preselectors responded to the call for renewal at the centre of Wolahans campaign. It is an embarrassment particularly for Assistant Treasurer and Victorian conservative faction leader Michael Sukkar.

Wolahan has a masters degree in international relations from the University of Cambridge, as well as degrees from Monash and Melbourne universities. He was an army reserve commando he did not serve in the regular army.

He said after the result: Today was a vote by the members for the future.

Frydenberg said: Today the Liberal Party in the seat of Menzies has started a new chapter.

Before the ballot Liberal sources had predicted a close result that could go either way the size of the margin was a surprise.

Follow this link:

Liberal right-winger Kevin Andrews defeated in preselection by Afghanistan veteran - The Conversation AU

Situated for two centuries in the icy silence of his tomb, in the Cimitero Acattolico, Rome, John Keats at least hasnt had to confront the Keatsians the scholars, academics and other buffoons, who have published books and papers about Keats Post-Newtonian Poetics, The Etymology of Porphyros Name, The Dying Keats: A Case for Euthanasia? and, not forgetting, Keats, Modesty and Masturbation.

Now comes Lucasta Millers Keats: A Brief Life in Nine Poems and One Epitaph (Jonathan Cape, 17.99), which is one big farrago of clich, jargon, mixed metaphor and general sloppiness. Page upon page is filled with phrases like under the skin, scruff of its neck, strapped for cash, cocked a snook, one fell swoop, punches far above the weight. Ad infinitum, via, raison dtre, status quo, inter alia and social kudos pepper the paragraphs, along with opined,emotional fallout, hands-on mentor, helicopter parenting, suburban new-build, dysfunctional childhood, downside and a bonding eight-week hiking holiday.

Miller talks about wanting to foreground those aspects of this, that and the other thing; shell excavate their backstories. Keats, a lower-class literary wannabe, stuck to his individual take, regardless of the mainstream which is another way of saying the poet refused to bow to conventionalities in his lifetime, though its hard to see how he could do anything much bow, scrape, dance a jig after his lifetime.

If the contemporary critics generally mocked Keatss work, this is because periodical culture was a seething piranha pool in which poetry and politics were joined at the hip. His Romantic imagination, we are vouchsafed, was elastic, winged and capacious, which conjures in my mind a picture of Ena Sharpless knickers.

Miller imposes on Keats her righteous and reproving woke sensibility. She is unhappy about exploitative political power in any guise, and in Regency England, most Britons would have found it hard to make sure their investments were ethically pure.

Continue reading here:

Is Keats 'un-woke'? Why scholars are tying themselves up in knots - Telegraph.co.uk

The Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerces award program is designed to recognize the dedication, achievement and entrepreneurial spirit displayed by exceptional local businesses, nonprofits and individuals.

Recipients of the 2020 Chamber Awards were announced virtually via Zoom and Facebook Live on Jan. 29.

Congratulations to the 2020 Nonprofit of the Year, Dorchester Paws. Dorchester Paws, formerly known as Frances R. Willis SPCA, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of animals in Dorchester County, South Carolina. Dorchester Paws is the only open-admission shelter in Dorchester County, serving towns including Rosinville, Ridgeville, Oakbrook, St. George, Summerville and Grover, SC. Partnering with Dorchester Code Enforcement, they take in every lost, abandoned and abused animal and provide them with food, shelter and medical attention until they find their forever home.

The shelter was established in 1972 by Frances R. Willis. Over the years, the shelter has been expanded, but they continue to reach and exceed capacity because our community is growing and the pet overpopulation crisis is not abating.

Dorchester Paws is a partner in the No Kill South Carolina Coalition. They are determined to end unnecessary euthanasia in Dorchester County by 2019. Since the beginning of 2017, they have made significant improvements to the shelter and quality of care they provide to the animals. Their euthanasia rate has been steadily reduced and they have not euthanized for time, space or money since January 2017. They are committed to making their live release rate meet the national average and in 2020 helped pass a Trap Neuter Return (TNR) Ordinance.

As the only open admission shelter serving our county, they take in every animal that crosses their gate, despite capacity limits, and rely heavily on fosters. Shelters and Rescues need support from their community now more than ever so that they can continue to end unnecessary euthanasia. Not to mention, the shelter has seen little renovations since it was established in 1972, yet they continue to improve upon and humanely care for an increasing number of animals. In 2020, they had to close their doors four times due to heavy rainfall that caused the shelter to flood.

When asked about their why, they said it is simple: the four paws and two eyes that have no voice. Imagine if they had no place to go? They are a voice for the voiceless, a shelter for the homeless, and an advocate for the abused.

Since its establishment in 1911, the Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce has been an integral part of the growth of Summerville and the surrounding areas. Our mission is to protect and promote the quality of life in the community, with specific emphasis on improving economic vitality and providing a favorable business climate. For more information, please visit http://www.greatersummerville.org or call (843) 873-2931.

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Dorchester Paws named 2020 Nonprofit of the Year by Summerville Chamber - Journalscene.com

The End wastes no time establishing the spiky tone prevalent throughout this very witty and entertaining black comedy and drama series, which pries open a topical conversation from an irreverent perspective. That conversation is the assisted dying debate, which the series created and written by Samantha Strauss, whose scripting credits include Dance Academy and its movie spin-off leaps into by depicting a suicide attempt from the recently widowed Edie (an acidly charismatic Harriet Walter).

Director Jessica M Thompson begins by painting the details of a house fire spreading from the kitchen to the rest of the apartment then introducing Edie, who is awoken by the fire. She tries to kill herself but the attempt fails, and she moves to the windowsill, where she chugs down spirits straight from the bottle. Outside, in the ambulance, Edie holds her wrist up to the medic and shows him the label around it: It says do not resuscitate! she says. To which the man responds: Luv, yer still conscious.

The tone is provocative and a little off-colour but not flippant, setting in motion a series that walks a tightrope, sometimes morbid and sometimes a touch absurd. Edie is promptly whisked to Australia by her headstrong but frazzled daughter Kate (Frances OConnor in fine form) and placed inside a retirement village. Im planning on doing it again, the dour ageing lady snarls, setting up a prickly mother-daughter relationship thats chipped away at throughout the entire 10-part arc, which gradually reveals where their tensions come from.

For Kate the issue of assisted dying is personal, with Mum wanting to end it, as well as professional, as she is a doctor who works in palliative care. One of her patients is Beth (Brooke Satchwell, in a brief but memorable performance), a woman with motor neurone disease who with the help of her husband, Josh (Luke Arnold) has procured a lethal drug on the black market. They ask Kate for help testing it but discover shes opposed to euthanasia a perspective we expect will change over the course of the series.

Thompson and Strausss show expresses in visual terms discrepancies in the attitudes people have towards dying: namely that they are often OK with putting animals out of their misery but reluctant to do the same for other humans. In one scene, the director cuts between the death of a character in hospital and the last moments of an injured bat in the backyard, which Kate kills with a shovel. Its a very bold and potentially insensitive connection but it works, buffeted by the sharp, stinging power of the drama and its slightly in-your-face attitude.

This is not a moment played for laughs, but in The End a cheeky, mordant sense of humour is never far from the surface. The shows unorthodox spirit sometimes expresses itself in weird ways. During the beginning of episode six, for instance, director Jonathan Brough plays a cover of Nick Caves Into My Arms over a scene that cuts between Kates 10-year-old daughter, Persephone (Ingrid Torelli), ascending a high diving board and one of Edies friends from the retirement village, Art (Roy Billing), climbing a ladder into the sky.

The old man goes up and up and up, cartoonishly high and into the heavens, busting through the clouds, beautiful birds flying around and a divine sun glaring above him. This magically weird moment leaves you wondering in the best kind of way what the hell did I just watch?

The Ends outr elements sometimes manifest in the actions of the characters, whose erratic behaviours can seem abrupt. This is partly due the way Strauss slowly reveals important things others might have signposted from the outset such as the transitioning of Kates oldest child, her son Oberon (Morgan Davies), who was assigned female at birth but identifies as male, and Kates previous struggles with alcoholism.

When you think youve got the story pegged, Strauss et al have a way of taking the drama someplace else, often with a cheeky joke. Tonally, I was reminded of the morbidly funny 1995 Australian film Mushrooms, in which Lynette Curran and Julia Blake play dodgy widows who dispose of the corpse of a lodger by cooking him. And in its more serious moments, I was reminded of the more recent Relic, which has a very different vibe, but also explores a mother-daughter dynamic in the context of people trying to bridge gaps between them.

The euthanasia movement is sometimes perceived as being pro-death a perspective that is true to a point but gets the framing wrong: its more about advocating quality of life. That attitude is reflected in the spirit of Strausss writing, which contemplates grim issues with naughty exuberance and joie de vivre making the point that you can confront death while loving existence. Maybe thats the message of the scene in episode six: that theres nothing wrong with staring down from the edge of the mortal coil into the abyss of the great beyond but why not do it with your head in the clouds, listening to birds and admiring the view?

The End premieres on Foxtels Showcase on Tuesday 2 February 8.30pm and is available to stream On Demand

Read more from the original source:

The End review spiky, witty drama on death that sometimes shifts into the absurd - The Guardian