Assisted dying: anti-euthanasia forces launch ‘gloves off’ campaign in key seats – The Age

The Victorian government will introduce assisted dying laws within months.Photo: Jason South

Opponents of voluntary euthanasia have warned Premier Daniel Andrews "the gloves are off" as they mount an aggressive campaign in some of Labor's most volatile seats ahead of the next Victorian election.

As the government prepares to introduce an assisted dying bill into parliament within months, critics have vowed to derail the legislation and electorally punish MPs who endup supporting it when it comes to a conscience vote later this year.

Right to Life has already taken out ads in suburban newspapers across Mr Andrews' Mulgrave seat, telling his constituents that the government is seeking to legalise "patient killing".

The group will also spend the next few months letter-boxing voters with similar messages in the ultra marginal electorates of Frankston, Carrum, Bentleigh and Mordialloc, and have organised for Oregon-based anti-euthanasia advocate Professor William LToffler to talk to Spring Street MPs this month as well as run a forum in the Premier's electorate.

"We're taking the fight right up to the enemy," said spokeswoman Margaret Tighe. "The gloves are off."

While the Premier, most of his ministers, the Sex Party and the Greens are in favour of law reform, others are not, such as Deputy Premier James Merlino, Opposition leader Matthew Guy and many socially conservative Liberals and crossbenchers. However, the majority of Spring Street's 128 MPs are yet to say whether they support assisted dying, or are waiting to see the final details.

Both sides admit that the outcome could be extremely close, just as it was in South Australia where a similar bill was defeated last year by only one vote. Furthermore, with about a dozenLabor and Coalition seats requiring swings of only 3 per cent or less to change hands, anemotive campaign could prove effective in swaying some MPs to vote against the bill for fear of abacklash.

Separately, the Australian Christian Lobby has stepped up its attack, urging supporters to pressure their local MPs,while accusing Labor of breaking an election promise not to introduce an assisted dying bill if it won government.

Documents show the pledge was made on the eve of the 2014 election, when Labor was asked to "rule out any attempt to bring on another vote on euthanasia". The written reply, seen by The Sunday Age, states that the while Mr Andrews and his team had plans to reform advance care directives and palliative care, "Labor does not support legislation beyond these provisions at this time".

"The government is underestimating the feeling in the community about this, and the community has very little trust in the ability of the government to get this right," said ACL state president Dan Flynn.

However, a spokesman for the Premier replied: "This is a very personal issue and there will be passionate views on both sides of the debate.We will ensure the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill has strong safeguards in place that will allow Victorians to have a choice at the end of their lives."

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Assisted dying: anti-euthanasia forces launch 'gloves off' campaign in key seats - The Age