Minister undermines Brumby on euthanasia

Victorian Premier John Brumby has been undermined by one of his own ministers, who
says an euthanasia debate should be back on the state parliament's agenda.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has vowed to give her Labor colleagues a conscience
vote in the federal parliament on a Greens proposal to let the territories legalise
euthanasia.
On Monday, Mr Brumby said legalising euthanasia was not on the Victorian
government's agenda.
But on Wednesday, Children and Early Childhood Development Minister Maxine Morand
said she wanted another debate on the issue.
A private member's bill legalising euthanasia was defeated in the Victorian
parliament in a conscience vote in 2008.
"I think there is a strong community view that it is time to have a debate on these
issues, and I hope that, in the future, there is an opportunity for the parliament
to consider and debate (them)," she told ABC news.
"You have people who would support change, in all parties.
"I do accept that it's not government policy, but I still hope that at some point in
the future, that we can have a debate, and that members of parliament have the
opportunity to express a conscience vote on this issue."
Following Ms Morand's comments, the premier said: "We've got no plans, there are no
plans on my part, no plans on behalf of the government, to re-examine this matter."
Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings, who voted in favour of the euthanasia bill
in 2008, said he supported the government's legislative agenda.
"I will actually make my contribution within the discussions of the government about
what should be on our legislative agenda," he told reporters.
Earlier this week, Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said he was personally in favour
of reform, but broad community support was needed before the issue could be pursued.
"In principle, I have been supportive, but I've made it clear that I believe we have
to engage the community on this to such a stage where there is broad, widespread
support for it before taking it further," he said.
Greens MP Colleen Hartland, who introduced the 2008 bill, called on the government
to refer the issue to the Victorian Law Reform Commission.
"Dying with dignity is a mainstream issue, supported by a majority of Victorians, of
all backgrounds and faiths," she said.
"The government has nothing to fear from an open debate."
The Medical Treatment (Physician-Assisted Dying) Bill, which would have allowed
Victorians suffering "intolerably from a terminal or advanced incurable illness" to
end their lives, was defeated in the upper house by 25 votes to 13.