Several days ago I watched a program on Perth TV about a formally very active and fun loving man in his eighties who was slowly dying. He was suffering pain and a variety of indignities. He wanted to die and his wife was lovingly supporting him, but under the law was unable to do anything to help.

The program then switched to a well known Perth "Right to Mind Everyone Else's Business for Them" member. As he spoke against voluntary euthanasia, to me he was the embodiment of evil, perhaps the reincarnation of one of the Spanish Inquisition torturers.

Well I believe in the right to self determination and the right to self defense of my rights. Perhaps this forum is being monitored by govt agents and by saying this I am putting myself at risk of a knock on the door in the middle of the night, as someone comes to take me [together with my computer] to an unknown destination for interrogation. I'll know who they are by the sound of the jackboots on my step.

It was interesting to listen to an interview with Barnaby Joyce about this issue. His evasiveness could not hide his pro-life views. I am begining to think we have another Brian Harradine in the making. I realise his senate vote had nothing to do with this law passing, but how long before he trades his vote for a personal moral view?

This law is about controlling the Philip Nitchke's of this world and shows how absurd this law is. "Oh I'll move the site to NZ, problem solved".

Our? Government is trying to control the flow of information, an impossible task. All it will do is stop informed people disseminating needed information for desparate people.

What a shame we have such a weak opposition leader, but of course he is after every vote he can get. Principles in politics were euthanased long ago.

Euthanasia (literally “good death”), practice of ending a life so as to release an individual from an incurable disease or intolerable suffering,... Or intolerable politicians.

Barns cooked his goose with his last piece of rude, hate-filled drivel. I refuse to read anything else he writes.

The increasing imposition of new legislation to stop this, curb that, prevent something else and punish people for all those new "crimes" is insanity. All it achieves is creating more criminals which generates a need for more prisons. Talk about progressive government!

Have you all noticed that is what governments today do to "fix" problems?

They create legislation. What person in his right mind would believe that a law is going to stop someone from committing suicide, or someone from talking to them about it? As usual only those not directly involved will be caught for doing something they didn't even know they were doing. Those that want to continue their search will still find what they want. Or they will do it more violently, perhaps in a car on a highway. Now that's much better isn't it? Better than choosing to die painlessly and easily and alone. Right.

Suicide used to be a crime for which people who attempted but failed suicide were then punished on top of failing to escape what they wanted to escape. Where's the logic? There is none is there. Maybe a law to force people to not be unhappy might be appropriate? Sounds like a good option.

This whole slant on government policy is about one thing to my mind. That is our PM and his cohorts want to impose their limited views of life on everyone else.

If you think about the laws against terrorist acts it's exactly the same. Will any suicide bombers who fail be pumped for knowledge of who advised them so they can be punished under this law as well as the terrorism laws?

Suicide is more common than our authorities think or admit. Stats only show known suicides and Kerry Packer will not be counted will he as he could afford it.

Could posting here be in breach of this draconion law? Need to be very careful what I say.
Wait until we have some honourable, generally law abiding citizens with terminal and painful illness prosecuted for seeking information on a way to terminate their life wtih dignity. Then see whether the courts will apply the law the way the government intends.

This legislation is just a further example of how debate and dissent is being stifled in this country. What sort of democracy are we?

Again its very personal. I suppose kids could get hold of it on the net. Its like abortion or being gay, as in, so much its certainly not something we would wish to advertise or make hip. Howard would be aware that people slip quitley away all the time with the help of their Drs , especially terminal cancer people and the likes.As much as i hated Packer he was old school enough to do some things the right way, dieing being one of the better things he did..Its sort of like the Australian flag when u see people wrapping it around their bodies with towels and shirts. It does not seem right some how. Thats not respect and dignity. A falg belongs on a flap pole and to take ones own life IS personal and SHOULD be kept that way.I think thats where Howards lot are coming from on this issue to be honest.
Gays in cuboards flags on poles abortion in private discussed with women and their Drs. Taking your own life .. very much the same. Why is it that people feel they have to TELL ALL. How about some good old fashioned descrection .