
Media Release 23rd October 2019
Parliament tonight has shamefully abdicated its responsibility to legislate to protect the vulnerable in society by voting 63 to 57 in favour of a referendum to decide the fate of the Seymour End of Life Choice Bill. When such important matters as life and death are at stake, Right to Life believes that Parliament must itself take responsibility for such decisions, rather than abdicating that responsibility.
The referendum will be conducted at the general election in 2020. Right to Life believes that if the bill passes its third reading in November, the media will continue to misinform the public We believe that they will lead a concerted campaign to persuade our community to support assisted suicide and euthanasia, by voting yes to the referendum.
Parliament has a duty to legislate for the protection of the most vulnerable members of our community the aged, the terminally ill and the disabled. Right to Life commends those Members who voted to defend life by voting to oppose a binding referendum. Right to Life asks if Members who voted for a referendum in Parliament are in Parliament at all. If they are reluctant to take responsibility to protect us, why are they there at all?
The motion for a referendum was moved by Jenny Marcroft of NZ First who declared that if Parliament did not support a referendum, NZ First would vote against the bill, at its third reading. The Hon Maggie Barry in her impassioned address in Parliament stated that this bill was a “kill bill”, that it was poorly worded and that it was disguised killing under the guise of choice and compassion. The Hon Nick Smith in his moving address said that the bill was “unsound, unsafe and dangerous.”
It is also shameful that Parliament refused to support the amendment of the Hon Tim MacIndoe to change the name of the End of Life Choice Bill to the “Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Bill”. The name of the bill is intended to mislead and hide its purpose, which is to allow doctors to assist in the suicide of their patients or to kill them by giving them a lethal injection.
Right to Life earnestly requests Parliament promote a culture of life and oppose a culture of death by voting to defeat this dangerous anti-life EOLCB, on the 13th November.
Ken Orr,
Spokesperson,
Right to Life