LEADER of the ACT Greens party Shane Rattenbury alongside Greens member Caroline Le Couteur have re-launched the “Dying with Dignity” campaign in Canberra following the Victorian Government’s decision to allow a conscience vote on dying with dignity legislation. 

“The people of the ACT, just like all Australians, should have the right to make choices about their death, just as they have the right to make decisions about their lives,” says Rattenbury.

Rattenbury says he welcomes the decision of the Victorian Government to allow a conscience vote on dying with dignity legislation.

“The ACT and Victoria are progressive jurisdictions who have pursued similar reforms when it comes to medicinal cannabis and Safe Schools. I am frustrated that the ACT is held back from legislating dying with dignity laws for our citizens as well by the discriminatory and archaic ‘Andrews Law’,” says Rattenbury.

Spokesperson for seniors Caroline Le Couteur called for the repeal of the ‘Andrews Law’, and for the ACT Government to legislate to allow people to die peacefully and on their own terms. 

“At the end of their life, citizens in the ACT should have the right to make choices. They should have the right to die with dignity, how and when they choose,” says Le Couteur.

“All of us will be affected by death at some point, and the vast majority of Australians want to know that they, and the people they love , will have the right to make important, personal decisions about how and when they die if they are in pain or suffering.”

The ACT Greens today (December 8) re-launched their campaign to repeal the discriminatory Andrews Bill after tabling the first 750 signatures in the Senate last year.

Information via actgreens.org.au/dying_with_dignity