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We recommend that concerned Western Australians respond to the Discussion Paper by the Government’s Euthanasia Panel (you can read a copy here.)

The best way to respond would be by attending one of the open public consultation sessions.

The WA Labor Government has announced that additional public forums will be held in Mandurah, Carnarvon, Karratha and Northam due to high public demand. Targeted sessions to assist with providing written feedback have also been scheduled in Albany.

https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2019/04/More-public-consultation-announced-on-voluntary-assisted-dying.aspx

Otherwise, please send an email to the panel outlining some or all of the concerns below:
To: VADconsultations@health.wa.gov.au


I don’t like the process

The discussion paper states that the panel are not willing to review arguments for or against voluntary euthanasia.
This restrictive call for feedback, includes three metropolitan public consultation sessions, being held on weekday morning’s further restricting opportunity for those in full-time employment.


Show me the data

I agree with the guiding principle on page 15 of your discussion paper that ‘People who may be vulnerable should be protected from coercion and abuse in relation to end of life choices’.

I would like this guiding principle elevated in the mind of our Government and our Members of Parliament as they contemplate creating an assisted suicide system in our State. So that they can fulfil this duty fully informed I request that your final report:

1. Advise on how many people have not been protected from coercion and abuse in each of the fifteen jurisdictions that have tried assisted suicide legislation and whether any have survived;

2. Advise on what the safeguards were in each of those jurisdictions that failed to protect those victims;

3. What have been the findings and subsequent recommendations of investigations into wrongful deaths in the other fifteen jurisdictions? (Wrongful deaths can include deaths by assisted suicide or euthanasia following a mistaken diagnosis, missing signs of treatable depression or overlooking subtle coercion by family members.)

4. Advise what redress was available to the families of the victims in each of the instances where the victim did not survive; 5. Recommend what an acceptable number of Western Australian casualties would be

If you have any questions, please contact our national office: 1300 365 965

QueenslandElectionVoteWisely2020

The 2020 Queensland Election is right around the corner and one of the two major parties will form government.

Whichever one ends up holding power will ultimately decide how important matters of family, faith and freedom are approached.

That's why FamilyVoice has released the "Know the Key Issues" guide to help you make an informed vote on Saturday, October 31.

This document is based on party statements, platform documents, policies and bills up to September 2020.

“Our key message for the upcoming October 31 election is be informed, know the key issues and vote wisely. The key moral issues are so vital in this election. Your vote can make a difference,” said FamilyVoice National Director Peter Downie.

"We strongly encourage you to share our guide far and wide with everyone you know who may be concerned about family, faith and freedom in this election," Mr Downie said.

"We encourage you to prayerfully consider who you support and vote for in this election and to email your local candidates asking them about their personal stances on key issues.

“We are keen to hear what responses you receive, so please feel free to email them to policy@familyvoice.org.au," he said

>> Download “Know the Key Issues”<<

 

Watch our QLD Election Webinar here:

QLD Election Video Image 

QueenslandElectionVoteWisely2020

The 2020 Australian Capital Territory Election will be held on Saturday, October 17.

One of the two major parties will form government and will ultimately decide how important matters of family, faith and freedom are approached. FamilyVoice has released the "Know the Key Issues" guide to help you make an informed vote.

The document is based on party statements, platform documents, policies and bills up to September 2020.

"Our Vote Wisely guide assists voters to understand where the major parties stand on matters of faith, family and freedom so that they can decide who to support," said FamilyVoice ACT Director Greg Bondar.

"Our key message for the upcoming October 17 election is be informed, know the key issues and vote wisely. Your vote can make a difference.

"We strongly encourage you to share our guide far and wide with everyone you know who may be concerned about family, faith and freedom in this election," Mr Bondar said.

"We encourage you to prayerfully consider who you support and vote for in this election and to email your local candidates asking them about their personal stances on key issues.

"We are keen to hear what responses you receive, so please feel free to email them to policy@familyvoice.org.au," he said.

>> Download “Know the Key Issues”<< 

 

Watch our ACT Election Webinar here:

ELECTION Webinar PowerPoint Slide Templates page001

voting guide 1000

The 2019 Federal Election is right around the corner and once again, like other federal elections, one of the two major parties will form government in the House of Representatives of Australia.

Whichever one ends up holding power will ultimately decide how important matters of family, faith and freedom are approached.

That's why FamilyVoice's Communications & Media team has released the "Know the Key Issues" guide to help you make an informed vote on May 18th.

This document is based on party statements, platform documents, policies and bills up to April 2019. In a few cases there may be differing statements from the same party. In these cases, we have considered what is being done by State governments at a State level as well.

"Our key message for the upcoming May 18th election is be informed, know the key issues and vote wisely. The key moral issues are so vital in this election," said FamilyVoice National Director Charles Newington.

"We encourage you to download our guide and share it far and wide with everyone you know who may be concerned about family, faith and freedom this election," Mr Newington said.

"And while we have produced this as a resource to concerned voters, this is by no means a "How to Vote" guide but rather a simple way of comparing where the Coalition and Labor stand on various matters of importance.

"We encourage you to prayerfully consider who you support and vote for this election and to email your local candidates asking them about their personal stances on key issues.

“We are keen to hear what responses you receive, so please feel free to email them to policy@familyvoice.org.au," he said.

>> Download “Know the Key Issues”<<

Order more copies by phoning FamilyVoice Australia: 1300 365 965. Costs may apply for large quantities.

notre dame firefighter

By Charles Newington, FamilyVoice Australia

When something like this happens no words can carry the weight of loss to those who knew the building and loved it.

Not so long ago my wife and I were in France giving time to pray for the people of France and all whose mother tongue is French. We were standing silently praying In Notre Dame along this vein and when I opened my eyes another person was standing close to me deep in prayer.  When I read the reports of this fire the visual memory of this praying man returned to me. I don’t know what he was praying for, but for me, standing in that place praying for the people of France made the place (and the people) special in a personal way. A fire of faith was kindled.

A spokesperson for the Vatican expressing the sense of loss described Notre Dame as the symbol of Christianity in France. Symbols matter. Notre Dame reminded the nation (and the world) that the roots of the nation are steeped in the faith of many generations. A young country like Australia sometimes feels empty of such enduring symbols built to the glory of God. But they are there for those who go looking for them. They speak of a time when the urban skyline was defined by buildings to the glory of God. Now our skylines are very different as are the intellectual horizons that envision them – much more immediate, much less transcendent and enduring.

Cathedrals around the world are seeing increasing numbers of visitors. I suggest it is a response to secularism’s desertification of society and the growing longing for an oasis for the soul. I’m not cynical about the tourists’ quick walk through, following a guide on autopilot. Many go not knowing what they will see or find but something of God always drops quietly into the searching heart.  

Protestants in earlier times were offended by the idolatry of Catholic churches – and with some justification. They were determined to build churches that were free of embellishments and not distracting to the worshiper. In so doing they unintentionally banished faith from the imagination and corralled it in the intellect. All would be well if the lives of believers were clothed with the fire of Christ’s love, but sadly sometimes we are concerned with fighting some lesser fire.

So now as we watch this ancient symbol burn… let us pray for France and for ourselves – that the true fire of the Spirit may consume the consumable leaving us like Moses’ burning bush – on fire but not consumed.