Euthanasia party launches candidates

Three terminally ill candidates of the Voluntary Euthanasia Party have launched the party in Sydney.

euthanasia_exitkit_101117_B_reuters_459388887

(File: AAP)

Multiple sclerosis may have stripped Loredana Mulhall of her ability to hold a microphone but it hasn't stopped her from running for the Senate.

Ms Mulhall was one of seven candidates at the launch of the Voluntary Euthanasia Party in Sydney on Monday.

"We need to know that when we do (die) that we are not distressed and we are considered valuable and that we have respect," said Ms Mulhall, who's running for a NSW senate seat.

The three month-old party has more than 2000 members and will run senate candidates in NSW, ACT and South Australia, as well as in the Northern Territory lower house seat of Solomon.

The party's deputy convenor, Dr Philip Nitschke, admitted the party would find it tough to get into the Senate in its first year but was encouraged by public support.

"We have consistent polling showing most Australians want change so if they become terminally ill they should have access to lawful help to die," he told reporters.

"No state parliament has the courage to do it. The federal parliament has made it clear that the territories of the nation can't make such laws, so it needs to be changed."

Dr Nitschke said the party wasn't aligned to either the left or right but would ensure their senate preferences flowed to candidates in support of voluntary euthanasia.

All Greens candidates have officially endorsed voluntary euthanasia.

The party is yet to decide how preferences for the NT seat of Solomon will be distributed.


Share
2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP

Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world