*It's interesting that the opponents of both euthanasia and gay marriage are now doing their best to appear as advocates of sweet reason now their more aggressive tactics have failed*

Well it's all part of very clever Catholic lobbying tactics. No
need to even mention the church. Fact is, the church is a hugely
wealthy organisation with plenty of resources at their disposal,
to use to push their barrow politically.

Recent advances have demonstrated that even irreversible spinal cord damage may be reversible! The technology/discovery clearly demonstrates that the body, given the right assistance, may be able to not only reverse spinal cord injury but brain damage as well.
It is early days, but in 5-10 years people may recover from head trauma injuries, strokes etc, that previously would have condemned them to a lifetime locked inside useless bodies.
Recently, a Gold Coast Widow took her own life via assisted suicide. She had recently been treated for cancer. She developed adhesions, which she interpreted as the return of cancer?
She manifestly wallowed in self pity, a problem shared by many euthanasia advocates?
The post mortem showed that she was completely clear of cancer, and that the minor adhesions, although painful, were treatable. Her real problem was depression and loneliness; and an addiction to both tobacco and poker machines?
In Scotland some years ago another Widow succumbed to then untreatable cancer. She was treated with heroin, which gave her complete pain relief. Something that can't happen here; given an asinine predilection by obtuse politicians, for banning things; clearly remaining the most effective pain relief currently in the locker.
She was given less than twelve months, but lived on for well over three years. In that time, she reunited with her estranged family.
Due to the efficacy of the pain relief, was reasonably active and reportedly enjoying life.
Her choice of how to spend the remaining time, was to enjoy the it, as opposed to wallowing in time wasting self pity.
People who want to top themselves, have multiple choices, that don't necessarily include others or outside assistance. What is missing in this debate, is hope?
Hope, which the circle thinking killjoys, go to considerable lengths to kill?
Incidentally, and entirely off topic, although straight, I'm an a somewhat outspoken advocate of Gay marriage and an inherent right to seek happiness, regardless of the "circumstances of birth", or who you are! Rhrosty.

What a specious argument! Again, you are inadvertently arguing FOR VE/PAS legislation not AGAINST. VE is not legal at the Gold Coast, therefore not subject to the strict regulations and checks imposed in countries like The Netherlands or jurisdictions like Oregon. We are asking for MORE supervision and accountability, not less.

THIS is what happens when people like Paul Russell get their way, NOT as a result of VE being legalised.

*People who want to top themselves, have multiple choices, that don't necessarily include others or outside assistance.*

Your kind of thinking is exactly the problem, Rhrosty.

Many people through no fault of their own, land up in circumstances
where they don't have choices anymore, as was the well known case
of Mr Rossiter and others like him. The man could not move a
muscle. The State gave him one choice, starvation if he chose it.

What drives many is fear of a similar ending and doing all within
their power to make sure that people like you, the Govt and the
Church, cannot deny them the choice which you insist on denying them
and which you claim that they have, when the evidence shows that
they clearly don't.

"People who want to top themselves, have multiple choices, that don't necessarily include others or outside assistance."

I suspect most don't have (or know of) a lot of options that don't include others, especially if you want it to be certain. Leaving aside the issue of physical capability for the moment which complicates the issue even further.

A drug overdose of some kind using a lot of the drugs commonly available has the risk of the body rejecting the medications or of discovery and intervention. Especially if the person wanting to end their own life tries to ensure that a loved one isn't the person to discover their body.

A more certain end might be gained by violent means, access to a firearm is not necessarily easy for someone who does not want to mix it with the underworld. That still leaves a messy cleanup for someone as does a high speed car crash and most other methods that are likely to work and be relatively quick. Most of those means also have some risk of not working outright and leading to even more suffering.

There may be multiple choices but few are certain, readily available and free of the need for others to deal with the aftermath.

R0ber

@RHrosty. "Recently, a Gold Coast Widow took her own life via assisted suicide. She had recently been treated for cancer. She developed adhesions, which she interpreted as the return of cancer?"

Legalised euthanasia would probably have saved this woman. If she knew that she had an "out" through medically assisted suicide, she would have sought medical attention which would have lead to the tests and discovery of treatable adhesions.