Former Australian Prime Minister and Labor Party heavyweight Bob Hawke has come out swinging in the v. contentious euthanasia debate, calling it “absurd” that Australia doesn’t allow assisted dying, and that opposition “doesn’t meet any requirements of morality and good sense”.
He was speaking to Andrew Denton, another advocate for euthanasia, on his podcast Better Off Dead, when he brought up the fact that he has discussed this matter with his wife Blanche D’Alpuget, and could not stand to “lose [his] marbles.”
Hawke mentioned the very strong support for euthanasia across the Australian electorate – he cited a 70 percent approval – and said that ‘scare campaigns’ have held it back in the past. Opponents of euthanasia claim that it is an undue burden on doctors and does not respect the sanctity of life.
More than 30 attempts to legalise euthanasia have failed in various Australian jurisdictions to date. Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia are expected to debate euthanasia laws this year.
Source: News.com.au
Photo: Getty Images / Graham Denholm.
