To die with dignity and flair?

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 5 May 2013

As Queensland Premier, Peter Beatty strongly resisted moves to introduce euthanasia laws to his state on the grounds of the sanctity of life, and because he “didn’t trust putting such ethical and moral matters in the hands of government regulation.”

But in an opinion piece in The Australian recently, Mr Beatty says he has changed his mind. He writes:

As my generation of baby boomers goes into old age, euthanasia will become an increasingly debated issue and the pressure on politicians to change the law will grow. Once the children of the 60s, they are the most emancipated generation in the history of humankind and when they reach the critical point of dying they will want to die as they lived: with dignity and flair.

That’s not an argument, Mr Beatty. That’s an excuse that completely ignores the valid ethical and theological reasons why no Australian state has ever enacted laws permitting euthanasia and assisted suicide.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.