Silver linings: how a grieving mothers fight for voluntary assisted dying in SA inspired a political pursuit – The Guardian

Liz Habermann hadnt really thought about voluntary euthanasia before her dying son, Rhys, brought it up.

The 17-year-olds sore hip had turned out to be an aggressive Ewings sarcoma, and it was terminal. Rhys suffered through the unimaginable physical and mental trauma of the disease, and the treatments, until one day he said: Just let me die.

Not long after his 19th birthday, doctors said there was nothing more they could do, that the tumours were rampant throughout his body.

We would often talk about it, Habermann says. In the early days hed asked each of us privately what we thought about euthanasia, about voluntary assisted dying.

It wasnt something Id had to think about. Suicide is a tough subject, regardless of the circumstances.

But we said well support him in whatever decisions he makes. There were times wed come home and go to his door, and wonder what wed find. Or wed message him, with our hearts in our throats, [waiting for the response].

Rhys was in palliative care, with a doctor suggesting more treatment even though there was no hope. Rhys, whom his mother describes as deep, caring and fearless, was horrified at the thought. Now an adult, he checked himself out of hospital, and Habermann drove him home to Wudinna, a small town on South Australias Eyre Peninsula.

In the car, Rhys thanked Habermann for everything shed done.

When Rhys got home, we knew what he was going to do, Habermann says.

He had a final hug with Habermann, his dad, Brett, and brother Lewis, while his other siblings were shielded from that final moment.

Rhys, worried about the impact his death would have on his family, recorded a video saying: I believe in my right to die by my own choosing.

The grieving family still had to suffer through an 18-month police investigation.

Rhys died in 2017. Four years later, Habermann joined the battle to have voluntary assisted dying laws passed in SA. After 30 years, 16 unsuccessful attempts, and a concerted battle by advocates, the laws passed in June.

Now Habermanns picking a different battle shes going to run as an independent in the safe Liberal seat of Flinders as SA heads to a March election.

Shes on the local Wudinna District Council, and people started talking to her about standing at first, in the federal seat of Grey, held by Liberal Rowan Ramsey since 2007.

But she settled on the state seat, a Liberal stronghold. She thinks the region has been taken for granted by governments, and plans to change that by ousting the Liberals the sitting MP, Peter Treloar, is set to be replaced by Sam Telfer at the election.

(The ABC reports that SA senator Rex Patrick may run for Grey, sparking speculation that his former colleague Nick Xenophon could return to politics via the empty Senate spot that would leave.)

She meets regularly with other independents as part of the Voices for community group, which includes Warringah MP Zali Steggall, Indis Helen Haines and her predecessor Cathy McGowan, along with a range of hopefuls challenging Coalition-held seats.

Since the family moved to Wudinna 15 years ago to run a bakery known for its vanilla slices and pasties, Habermann has watched the population decline.

The peninsulas rail network was stopped in 2019 after the state government let the lease end. Getting the trains back on track will be one of Habermanns priorities, to reconnect the vast area with the rest of Australia. That lifeblood will help with everything else, she says, such as getting proper health resources Wudinna recently lost its only GP, who cited a lack of support for his resignation.

Treloar holds Flinders on a margin of almost 30%. The electorate, which stretches from Eyre Peninsula to the Western Australia border, has never been held by Labor.

After Rhyss death, Habermann says, meeting the other VAD advocates such as Labor MP Kyam Maher and journalist Lainie Anderson was one of the silver linings.

When people including Marie Shaw QC encouraged her to go into politics, at first she thought there couldnt be anything worse.

Watching the VAD bill being debated left her frustrated with out-of-touch politicians, but when the bill finally passed, she was elated and filled with hope.

Its something I hope will never benefit me, and obviously its too late for Rhys, but so many people will benefit from knowing they have a choice now, she says.

There were so many people involved. When it got passed, it was exciting its exciting that you can actually make change.

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Silver linings: how a grieving mothers fight for voluntary assisted dying in SA inspired a political pursuit - The Guardian