Last Thursday, on the back of a well-funded campaign laced with a dangerous mix of half-truths, misinformation and outright lies, Queensland became the latest Australian state to legalise assisted suicide.
As is so often the case, these latest laws have gone further down the death culture rabbit hole that is sweeping through our nation. Despite our disappointment and sadness, it is good to remind ourselves that God does not value success as the world sees success. God’s goal for us is obedience, faithfulness, and for us to develop Christlike character.
Following on from the passing of the euthanasia legislation, ACL’s National Political Director, Wendy Francis, said,
“I am so encouraged by the thousands of supporters and volunteers who wrote emails, prayed, phoned and visited their MPs, marched, and protested silently outside parliament during the debate. Imagine if there was no one standing for life? I’m so grateful to have been standing with you all.”
And there’s more we can do.
Whilst 61 Members of Parliament voted to legalise euthanasia, there were 30 members across LNP, ALP, KAP and ONP, who stood up for life and voted against the legislation. Please take the time to thank them, particularly if they are one of your local members. Click here for a list of all of the members who voted no.
The opposition presented 54 amendments to the euthanasia bill in an effort to protect religious institutions and medical practitioners from being forced to participate in killing their patients. Not one amendment was passed.
When this bill is enacted, doctors and nurses will be able to initiate a discussion of assisted suicide with vulnerable patients. Anyone who talks someone out of euthanasia risks a 7 year jail term. Doctors involved must falsify legal death certificates.
All whilst palliative care remains drastically underfunded in Queensland to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars annually, and thousands of aging Queenslanders suffer from elder abuse each year.
Australia as a whole, is simultaneously engaging in a huge and expensive campaign to fight mental health disease and prevent suicide, whilst fostering a culture that permits and even celebrates killing our elderly, lonely, and sick. It is a wicked bill.
No society remains the same after passing euthanasia laws. It is a bridge that, having crossed, alters culture and behaviour of doctors, hospitals, and even family relationships.
Looking ahead, the promised 3-year review of this radical euthanasia law should coincide with Queensland’s next State election. You and I will continue to hold up God’s mandate for choosing life. Please take the time to thank the 30 Queensland parliamentarians who voted for life.
