Former Australian Prime Minister concerned about a secret deal to legalize euthanasia.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

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Tony Abbott

on Tony Abbott, the former Prime Minister of Australia, is concerned about secret deals to obtain the votes to legalize euthanasia. The Guardian reported Abbott as saying:

So, look this is a due process issue, should our negotiators be able to make secret deals with Senate crossbenchers, when frankly, on something vital for the future for our country and our government, they are not prepared to take their own backbench into their confidence.

Kevin Andrews

Hon Kevin Andrews, who led the campaign to overturn the 1995 Australia Northern Territories assisted suicide law, also expressed concern over a secret death deal. The Australian reported:

Mr Andrews warned that many people were “dismayed” by revelations in today’s The Australian that the Prime Minister had assured Liberal Democratic senator David Leyonhjelm that Coalition MPs would be given a free vote on a bill restoring territory rights. 

The free-vote assurance to Senator Leyonhjelm was given by Mr Turnbull to win the crossbencher’s support for restoration of the Australian Building and Construction Commission — the key issue on which the Coalition called on the 2016 election.

It appears that Australian political leaders are willing to cut secret deals to legalize assisted suicide. The scandal related to the secret deal will hopefully be part of the government losing confidence.