Hon Nick Goiran MLC - A Great Stalwart For Life!

The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2019 is currently being debated in the Legislative Council in the Parliament of Western Australia. We are immensely proud of the work of Hon. Nicolas (Nick) Goiran MLC – Member of the Legislative Council, Parliament of Western Australia. Nick has spearheaded the opposition to the Bill.

The debate has passed the 2nd reading (see vote below) and is now in the Committee stage, where every clause – over 180 of them – is being examined before the final vote. It is expected the final vote will occur before the end of the year. Nick has proposed over 350 amendments - to expose the flaws and enable Members to see through this dangerous bill. We continue to work to oppose the bill and encourage those of you living in WA to contact your MLCs.

Parliament of WA Hansard Legislative Council 22/10/19 Hon Nick Goiran MLC – (excerpt)

... “I turn now to page 31 of the Ministerial Expert Panel on Voluntary Assisted Dying’s report and its consideration of matters that are of interest to Indigenous Western Australians. It states — The complexity of medical terminology and the balance of power between health practitioner and patient was also identified as potentially challenging and would require thorough consideration during any implementation planning (including being part of practitioner education and training).

What did the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia have to say to the Ministerial Expert Panel on Voluntary Assisted Dying about that?

It said, as quoted in the Ministerial Expert Panel on Voluntary Assisted Dying’s report — ‘Clinicians often use complex medical terminology when discussing treatment options with Aboriginal people … This results in the real risk that Aboriginal people may consent to something they don’t fully understand.

There is also the issue of the disparity of power between a doctor and Aboriginal people; Aboriginal people will often agree with a doctor’s advice even if they are not happy with it as they can feel overpowered in the doctor–patient relationship’. Those are not my words and not my view of the world; that is a submission by the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia to the Ministerial Expert Panel on Voluntary Assisted Dying.”

2nd reading vote, Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2019- WA Legislative Council, Wednesday 23rd October 2019

Image: Hon Nick Goiran MLC