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The VE Bulletin Excerpts
'No price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself' Rudyard Kipling
Draft federal legislation outlaws suicide information
SAVES has sent an official response to the exposure draft of crimes legislation aimed at outlawing a range of information on the internet, including 'suicide promotion material'.
The relevant subsections of the federal Attorney General's "Crimes Legislation Amendment (Telecommunications Offences and Other Measures) Bill 2004" are:
474.27 'Using a carriage service for suicide promotion material'
Briefly, under this subsection, if a person uses a carriage service to access material, causes material to be transmitted to another, transmits material, makes material available, or publishes or otherwise distributes material considered 'suicide promotion' material they are guilty of an offence under certain circumstances.
These are that they intend to use the material to promote, counsel or incite suicide, or intend that the material be used by another person to promote, counsel or incite suicide, or intend the material be used by a person to commit suicide.
474.28 'Possessing, controlling, producing, supplying or obtaining suicide promotion material for use through a carriage service'
Under this subsection a person is guilty of an offence if they have possession or control of material, or they produce, supply or obtain 'suicide promotion material' material with the intention that the material be used by themselves or another in committing an offence against section 474.27 mentioned above.
There is concern that the legislation may have an impact on voluntary euthanasia groups throughout Australia and the Australian Democrats will be seeking amendments to the proposed legislation so that these groups will not be captured within the broad scope of the bill.
SAVES President Frances Coombe sent the following response to the exposure draft on 12th April 2004 expressing her deep concerns.
"Dear Senator the Hon. Chris Ellison,
Re: Crimes Legislation Amendment (Telecommunications Offences and Other Measures Bill (2004)
As President of the South Australian Voluntary Euthanasia Society (SAVES), I write to express our deep concern at the proposed legislation.
We are firmly committed to law reform that allows a willing doctor to accede to the informed and persistent request of a hopelessly ill patient for help to die, subject to safeguards including parliamentary supervision. SAVES is one of 37 members of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies and we engage in ongoing dialogue with church, medical, education and legal bodies.
Our aims are supported by nearly 80% of Australian citizens. We do not advocate suicide or self-deliverance. Nevertheless the proposed amendments could be used to inhibit or put an end to our legitimate activities. Competent adults have a right to end their own lives. It is most important that those who see this as a possibility should have access to advice to ensure that they do not act irrationally or by inappropriate means. Under a voluntary euthanasia law such as we are working towards, people are afforded protection through extensive advice about treatment options. EXIT Australia, as a separate organisation, also provides advice through its workshops.
Advice can lead to a change of mind or at least prevention of a disastrous attempt at self- deliverance. It is a possibility that, under the proposed amendments, both our work and that of EXIT could be falsely interpreted as intending to promote suicide.We urge you to introduce changes that will resolve these concerns. It is particularly unfortunate that the proposed amendments link the controversial and ill-defined issue of the promotion of suicide to the distribution of child pornography, which is universally abhorrent. The presentation of these disparate issues as a package deal has the potential to distort debate and to bias the outcome.
We strongly urge you in the interests of free and fair discussion to present the issues in separate bills.
Yours Sincerely,
Frances Coombe "
In addition SAVES vice-president Mary Gallnor has also written to all SA senators and federal members of parliament also expressing concerns. SAVES will be monitoring the progress of this legislation which may stifle legitimate debate on a social reform supported by almost 80% of Australians
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