Queensland residents draw to the attention of the House that the act of euthanasia devalues human life. To legalise euthanasia and physician assisted suicide would place large numbers of vulnerable people at risk - the depressed, elderly, sick, dying or disabled, those who feel themselves to be under emotional or financial pressure, and those who believe they are a burden to others, could feel obliged to request an early death.

Experience shows assisted suicide/euthanasia requests almost always disappear when physical, psychological, spiritual and cultural needs are provided for. Our priority must be to improve provision of best practice supportive and palliative care, empowering people through advance care planning. 

Allowing assisted suicide/euthanasia is unnecessary, dangerous and contrary to the common good and good medical practice. It undermines the well-established legal, medical, ethical and social principles that people should be able to access quality care at end of life, not be helped to kill themselves and that doctors should not intentionally kill.

The considered message of Australia's parliaments against legalising euthanasia has been unambiguous in concluding that legalised voluntary euthanasia can never be made safe.

The undersigned are deeply opposed to legalising assisted suicide or euthanasia.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to:

• Reject all calls to legalise euthanasia and physician assisted suicide;
• Provide for sufficient palliative care services to meet existing and anticipated future demands for such services in all areas of our State;
• Provide additional funds for training of palliative care staff within all settings of care