UPDATE 3.20PM The husband of Spring Gully woman Dorothy Hookey – who took her own life in 2014, using Nembutal she had sourced from the United States – hailed the passing of voluntary euthanasia laws through the lower house of parliament on Friday as an “excellent first step” for Victoria.
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The legislation will now head to the upper house with assisted dying supporters hopeful they have the numbers to pass the momentous laws.
Graham Hookey and daughter Diana were investigated by Victoria Police following Dorothy’s death.
The Coroners Court later found the family did not assist the 86 year-old in taking her own life, clearing them of wrongdoing.
“This (assisted dying laws) is a radical departure from what has been public perception in the past. To me it is an excellent first step to experience this and see how it works,” Mr Hookey said.
In its current from, the legislation would not have applied to Dorothy, given her condition was not life threatening within the next 12 months, he said.
“At least they (politicians) have taken the first step to legalise assisted dying with dignity so people who realise they are progressing down that path and are going to suffer intolerable pain have got the choice to say ‘look I don’t want to go on any further’,” he said.
“She (Dorothy) decided she had done all the things she wanted to do in her life and she did not wish to proceed past a certain age and that doesn’t come into the legislation.”
The Spring Gully man expected the legislation, if passed in the upper house early next month, to evolve with community expectation in the coming years.
“Death is inevitable. We are born, we live, we die. If we can help people along that journey – both through religion and legislation – it should help people make that journey in an easier fashion,” he said.
“The bit that really impinged on us was that my wife had to do this on her own without the comfort of her family beside her when she ultimately made her final decision.”
EARLIER Bendigo state MPs have lauded the achievement of the lower house of parliament, which endured a marathon sitting to pass historic voluntary euthanasia laws on Friday.
The legislation will now head to parliament's upper house with assisted dying supporters hopeful they have the numbers to pass the momentous laws.
Bendigo East MP Jacinta Allan said it was difficult to predict how the vote would play out in the upper house, given politicians had a conscience vote and did not have a party line to toe.
Ms Allan said this sitting week in parliament was one of the best in her 18-year political tenure.
“Every now and again a piece of legislation will come along that challenges us in a different way, that challenges us to think very deeply,” she said.
“It was a privilege to be part of that debate because it was conducted in the way that demonstrates the best of parliament.”
Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards delivered an emotional speech in parliament on Tuesday about her late husband Lindsay, who died in 2002 after battling terminal brain cancer for seven years.
Ms Edwards said she was “relieved” the legislation passed the lower house.
“There’s a sense that something really historic has happened today, something that will change the lives of a lot of people who want to chose voluntary assisted dying,” she said.
The reasoned and respectful debate was emotionally charged, Ms Edwards said.
“When you are part of change that is so significant and substantial it just gives you a really good feeling and makes your appreciate why you do this job,” she said.
“It (voluntary assisted dying laws) is a great social change that we've been working toward.”
More to come.
