Cowra residents urged to have say on Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill

With the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill expected to be tabled in the NSW Legislative Assembly later this year, a Gooloogong man says it is 'about time' the matter was once again brought before the state government.

NSW is the only state in Australia without voluntary assisted dying legislation after Queensland voted in favour of the bill in September this year.

Following the bill's narrow defeat in NSW Parliament in 2017, 20 votes to 19, Gooloogong resident and Dying with Dignity volunteer Greg Connell has been determined to get word out about the matter.

He believes the bill will be passed this time around.

"It's pretty sad NSW will be known as the last state not the first state," Mr Connell said.

"It's been a long time coming, there's a lot of pressure.

"If it gets denied this time, I think there will be a lot of nervous politicians come election time. We won't forget this time."

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Mr Connell's support for a Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill in NSW comes after the death of his father, Cletus "Pluto" Connell.

Speaking to the Cowra Guardian in 2017, Mr Connell told the story of his father's death by suicide after battling terminal cancer.

"I think it's well overdue, if it can stop a family having to go through what my sister and myself went through in regards to our father and the way he had to go to keep his dignity intact," he said.

"That's why I support it, I don't want any other family to go through what we went through and then have it hidden in the suicide figures."

Since then, Mr Connell has had to face another battle, with his wife Sarah recently diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma - cancer of the liver.

"She had three months of chemo and she came back for her surgery about six weeks ago and they discovered it had grown a little and they couldn't get it out," he said.

"She's in the process of getting ready, all CT scans for radiation treatment, which will start next week.

"We've probably caught it at an early stage before it really started to affect her health-wise. All her liver functions are healthy, seem to be running fine at the moment.

"Hopefully, with this radiation treatment that they do, they can target it precisely and get all of it but there is obviously the chance that they won't.

"It's a 50/50, it's been 50/50 the whole way through and we just take it as it comes.

"I think the experience with my father, it's kept me grounded but it's also, because it's my wife, I've cried a lot, I don't shy away from that."

Earlier this year, Mr Connell and other Dying with Dignity members held a stall in Young where he also had the opportunity to chat with Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke.

"We had a stall down in Young basically after signatures and people were supportive, it was a very positive day... and we had a number of people come up to us and actually say that they only come into Young that day to sign that petition," he said.

"That says enough in itself, the support out there is overwhelming and it's starting to come through from all sectors.

"I actually went in with Steph while we were down there, I had an appointment and went in and had a conversation with her and presented her with a letter from my wife, explaining her situation and how she supports it.

'We had a very in-depth conversation about it, I went in and took photos of my father to give her the whole story and so she could see him first hand, what he was like, so she had an idea of what I was talking about."

Ms Cooke, along with a number of other state members, are calling for residents to have their say on the bill.

"I recognise for many in the community, this area of public policy is deeply personal and often evokes strong emotions and views," Ms Cooke said.

"For this reason, I am reaching out to everyone across the Cootamundra electorate, seeking their opinion and thoughts on the Bill.

"The views will help shape the position I take, as their local Member of Parliament, when the time comes for the Bill to be debated and voted on."

Mr Connell called on state politicians to ask for a conscience vote and listen to their constituents.

"It takes a big person to be a politician and go into parliament, it takes a bigger one to go in there and represent a constituent's view that isn't necessarily theirs and that is what we need in this state and this country," he said.

Mr Connell said, ultimately, the passing of the bill will allow greater choice for those with terminal illnesses in NSW.

"It's purely about compassion and about freedom of choice," he said.

"It's about [the right] to say, 'No I want to fight until the end', if you decide to do that, I'm with you 100 per cent.

"But if you decide you want to go out standing, making your choices, then I'll be there with you too and that's the way it should be"

If you would like to have your say on the Bill, visit www.stephcooke.com.au/survey/

There you can also find a fully copy of the draft bill.

Alternatively, you can email your view to cootamundra@parliament.nsw.gov.au or send a letter to Steph Cooke MP, Member for Cootamundra, Reply paid 89383, Young, NSW, 2594.

"Please be assured that your views and any correspondence sent to me will be treated as strictly confidential. I would like to thank everyone who has already taken a moment to complete the survey," Ms Cooke said.

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