This article was originally published at The Spectator Australia website and is re-posted here with permission. The Parliament of Victoria is about to vote on a bill to legalise assisted suicide and euthanasia. Health Minister Jill Hennessy has claimed it has robust safeguards. But the bill is not as safe as it is made out
The Institute for Civil Society has made a submission to the Victorian Parliament's Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee regarding the Andrews Government's Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill. A PDF version can be accessed here. Statement of Compatibility on the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2017 12 October 2017 Ms Lizzie Blandthorn MP Scrutiny of Acts
Mark Sneddon and Sharon Rodrick published in The Age on Victoria's Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2017. Victoria’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2017 provides a regime for a person to request the prescribing of lethal drugs which can be self-administered by the person (i.e. assisted suicide) or in some circumstances administered by a health practitioner (i.e.
"I don't think we have to speculate. All we have to do is look at the countries where same-sex marriage has been brought in." - Prof. Iain Benson "It's not possible for a politician to promise that there will be no changes." - Prof. Janet Epp-Buckingham Besides the ICS publications on this topic, a series of short
Executive Summary This paper outlines some of the implications of same sex marriage. One of these is the accelerated legal and cultural damage to freedom of speech, conscience and religion for those who support traditional marriage. That issue is not just about forcing ministers to conduct weddings or bakers to bake cakes for same sex
Mark Sneddon quoted in The Australian: "Rights Clash Looms in Same-Sex Debate" by Paul Kelly, 12/8/17 "Institute for Civil Society executive director Mark Sneddon summarises his views based on his submission to the Senate committee: “I am extremely concerned about the lack of legal protection across this country in terms of freedom of conscience, belief
Mark Sneddon quoted in The Australian: "Christians Plan to Target Coalition" by Simon Benson, 8/8/17 "Institute for Civil Society executive director Mark Sneddon, a board member of Freedom for Faith, yesterday warned there were holes in Australia’s discrimination regime that would be exacerbated by the legislation of same-sex marriage. He called for urgent changes to
Education Department officials in Queensland have decided that primary school students can’t talk about Christianity or even give Christmas cards because this is “evangelism” and creates an unsafe environment. This policy, which officials admit is unsupported by any statute or regulation, has the smell of totalitarianism. It also has the smell of discriminatory bigotry. It doesn’t apply to
On 15 February the Senate Select Committee handed down its report on the Exposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill.1 Key points The Senate Select Committee stated in its report that: in the short term there is a need to enhance current protections for religious freedom generally. there was broad agreement that any future
In late 2016 the Australian Senate established a committee to inquire into the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill. The committee called for submissions exploring: the proposed exemptions for ministers of religion, marriage celebrants and religious bodies and organisations to refuse to conduct or solemnise marriages, and the extent to which those exemptions prevent encroachment upon
