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Good news: Tasmania rejects euthanasia

On Wednesday night we received the fantastic news that the Tasmanian House of Assembly voted down the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2016 16-8! This was the third attempt in 10 years to try to introduce an assisted dying bill. Here's the record of who voted for and against the bill:

For:
Cassy O'Connor (Greens), Andrea Dawkins (Greens), Rosalie Woodruff (Greens), Lara Giddings (ALP), Rebecca White (ALP), Michelle O'Byrne (ALP), Scott Bacon (ALP), Nic Street (Liberal).

Against:
Will Hodgman (Liberal), Michael Ferguson (Liberal), Guy Barnett (Liberal), Jacquie Petrusma (Liberal), Rene Hidding (Liberal), David Llewellyn (ALP), Madeleine Ogilvie (ALP), Sarah Courtney (Liberal), Roger Jaensch (Liberal), Jeremy Rockliff (Liberal), Shane Broad (ALP), Matthew Groom (Liberal), Peter Gutwein (Liberal), Adam Brooks (Liberal), Mark Shelton (Liberal), Joan Rylah (Liberal).

The bill even included those with a non-terminal illness such as chronic arthritis or diabetes to be eligible for assisted suicide. It also would have falsified death certificates to cite the cause of death as the disease, a similar concept to the recommendations in Victoria's interim report on euthanasia.

Several politicians spoke against the bill, including Resources Minister Guy Barnett who called the euthanasia proposal, "Seriously flawed, inconsistent and ambiguous bill, it lacks adequate safeguards."

Deputy Premier and Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said, "For me, euthanasia really does go against the grain, it doesn’t reflect my values in terms of that commitment I have for looking out for the more vulnerable in our community."