Professor addresses Rotary about dying with dignity
Woy Woy's Professor Stephanie Short has addressed the Rotary Club of Umina Beach about the NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill, currently before Parliament.
She was introduced by Ms Olwyn Lewis, wife of Rotary club member Mr Pat Lewis.
Ms Lewis is a member of the Central Coast Dying With Dignity Group of which Professor Short is chair.
Besides being an active supporter of the legislation, Professor Short is a health sociologist and political analyst at Sydney University.
"Stephanie's discussion was both balanced and informative and engaged all in open discussion," said club president-elect Mr Wayne Dowdle.
"We were fortunate to have Professor Stephanie Short and her husband, Valentine,
attend our meeting."
Professor Short said debate in the NSW Legislative Council on NSW's Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill had commenced.
"There were two and a half hours of debate on Wednesday, March 23, with 12 speeches in all, eight in favour and four against ,including Fred Nile and Mark Latham," she said.
"Incredibly Mark Latham was opposed because he said the Bill was too complicated and no one could understand it."
Professor Short said: "The NSW Bill is based on the legislation that has already been debated, amended and passed in all the other states in Australia."
She said the Rotary meeting had "very lively" discussion and "members of the club were brought right-up-to-date with the law reform process in NSW".
After last week, the Legislative Council does not sit again until May.
"The word is that the debate in the NSW Legislative Council could drag on until June."
She said Dying With Dignity had organised a well-attended rally in Macquarie St to speed up the debate.
She is pictured (centre) at the rally outside NSW Parliament House on March 23.
SOURCE:
Media release, 27 Mar 2022
Dr Stephanie Short, Woy Woy
Newsletter, 30 Mar 2022
Wayne Dowdle, Rotary Umina Beach