Tourism has a new boost in travel plans.  Lunacy of other MPs in all other States will ensure we all must trundle down to Victoria “When the Time Comes,” to carry out our own Living Will.  Well done to all MPs in Victoria who are making this humanitarian issue a realty of common sense.  Brickbats to the nutters who use their own religion to tell individuals how to end our lives with dignity.  We voted people into Parliaments across the nation to represent the majority who are known as the 80% “us.”  At least this will sort out the MPs who are selfishly using their own minority views instead of acting in best interests of most of their own CONSTITUENTS.  WELL DONE VICTORIA for bringing the nutters into the 21^st Century.  What sort of nation would want citizens to not be be permitted to die with dignity and on their own terms.

Legal euthanasia nears as Victorian Labor and Liberal MPs unite

The Australian 12:00AM January 5, 2017

John Ferguson

Australia is increasingly likely to get its first legalised euthanasia ­regime, as Victorian Labor moves decisively behind its Premier and opponents privately concede ­momentum is firmly against the desperate, behind-the-scenes “no’’ campaign.

Multiple cabinet sources in the Andrews government have ­confirmed that backing for ­assisted suicide laws is virtually unanimous across the ministry, with firm — philosophical — ­resistance down to as few as two ­ministers. The Liberal Party also appears set to deliver enough numbers to ensure assisted dying legislation passes through the upper house, although final positions will only be known when draft laws are written by the ­government.

The Australian has canvassed the views of key frontbench members­ on both sides of politics, with a clear majority of Labor MPs in both houses of parliament set to back Premier Daniel Andrews’s position.

Of the cabinet members, only Deputy Premier James Merlino and Consumer Affairs Minister Marlene Kairouz appear guaranteed to vote against the model to be put to the vote in the second half of this year.

Death by lethal tablet appears the most likely option.

There are up to four other ministers­ seeking a guarantee from Mr Andrews that the so-called safeguards will be strong enough to prevent opportunistic deaths, according to sources familiar with discussions. “A vote held today would get over the line,” a senior Labor MP said. “The question will be how strong the safeguards are; Dan will need to ensure they are watertight.’’

Labor does not have control of the 40-member upper house, which is a diverse chamber ­bolstered by five MPs representing interests as diverse as shooting, sex and local jobs.

There are 14 Liberal MPs and 14 Labor. Liberal estimates are that cross-party support for ­euth­an­asia laws is in the early 20s, meaning only an ambiguous model adopted by the government would lead to its defeat.

This is, in part, because the make-up of the Liberal MPs in the upper house is considered more socially liberal than the Legislative Assembly, where Liberal leader Matthew Guy will oppose any assist­ed suicide bill.

Liberal and Labor MPs will be afforded a conscience vote.

Two of the key Liberal MPs in the upper house will be former health minister David Davis and upper-house president Bruce Atkinson. Both MPs are considered more likely than not to support legalised euthanasia but could become­ critical if there are internal concerns about the way the draft legislation is drawn.

“The point people are missing about the upper house is that there are fewer social conservatives among the Liberal team,’’ a senior Liberal said.

“So if you are analysing the numbers, you need to look at it through this prism.’’

If parliament passes the laws, it will defy the views of the ­Australian Medical Association in Victoria, Malcolm Turnbull and palliative care specialists.

It would also make Victoria the first jurisdiction to legalise ­euthanasia since the Northern Territory’s laws were overturned by the Howard government in 1997.

The Victorian bill will be drafted using the knowledge of a so-called expert panel, which will include at least one member strongly sympathetic towards the need for reform.

Mr Andrews has insisted that assisted dying would only be available to Victorian residents, to prevent­ an influx of interstate and oversease people wanting to kill themselves with the state’s ­assistance.

Any regime would allow termin­ally ill, mentally agile adults to be helped to die, probably with a lethal tablet administered after two doctors had cleared the way for the premature death.

Estimates, while contested, suggest that fewer than 200 people­ a year would fall under the euthanasia regime.

While support in Labor has grown for euthanasia, The ­Australian understands that MPs have expressed concerns in caucus­ that the government has lost its way and should focus more heavily on economic rather than social issues.

In a clear pitch to Greens voters­, Labor has embarked on an aggressive wave of reforms, includin­g the embracing of the Safe Schools agenda, same-sex adoption and decriminalisation of medicinal cannabis.

A senior Labor source said there was growing pressure from the backbench to focus on mainstream issues.

“It will cost us government unless­ we focus on the things that matter to voters,’’ the MP said.