One of the most respected CLP chief ministers in the NT’s history has publicly criticised the current CLP Government and Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby for “absurd” and inaccurate claims around how the Territory’s first euthanasia laws came to be, while accusing the government of being “inept” over its handling of the current proposed legislation.
CLP stalwart Marshall Perron told the NT Independent on Sunday that Ms Boothby’s claims the Country Liberal Party introduced what was then called the Rights of the Terminally Ill legislation 31 years ago was inaccurate, ignorant and an “embarrassment for the government”.
While pledging last week that the Finocchiaro CLP Government was still committed to introducing Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation later this year – while rejecting two crucial recommendations of its own committee’s report which will now make it harder for Territorians to access if it passes – Ms Boothby bragged in a press release that “30 years ago, the CLP led the nation by introducing the rights of the terminally ill – three decades on we are once again progressing careful and considered reform in this space”
The problem is that’s not true.
Mr Perron, who served as chief minister for nearly seven years between 1988 and 1995, pointed out that when he introduced the Rights of the Terminally Ill bill in 1995 as a private members’ bill, several of the 10 MLAs who voted against it in a conscience vote were CLP members, including ministers Shane Stone, Steve Hatton and then-CLP speaker Terry McCarthy, who unusually vacated his chair to vote against it in a parliamentary session that went until 3:45am.
Another high-profile minister who voted against the euthanasia bill was Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro’s now father-in-law and former CLP chief minister Denis Burke.
“The Attorney-General’s claim that the bill was an initiative of the CLP is a display of ignorance from a senior minister and must be an embarrassment for the government,” Mr Perron said.
“Even the AG’s staff should be red-faced as the facts are available with a few clicks online for anyone doing their homework.
“Neither the CLP nor the ALP had anything to do with the drafting or introduction of the bill. Neither party played a role in the public campaign in support of, or opposition to, the bill.”
Mr Perron earned widespread respect across the country for introducing the euthanasia bill, which placed the NT ahead of every other jurisdiction in Australia for legalising euthanasia. But the legislation was overruled by Canberra two years later, led by conservative coalition Christian MPs.
Mr Perron resigned as chief minister hours before the bill was debated in NT Parliament so as not to be seen to be influencing his party on how to vote. It passed in a 15-10 vote.
Currently, the NT is the only jurisdiction in the country without right to die legislation.
While Ms Boothby claimed the current Finocchiaro CLP Government was committed to introducing the VAD legislation before the end of the year, she also said the government had added new eligibility criteria that will require terminally ill patients to have a “condition that is advanced, progressive and expected to cause death within 12 months”.
That was recommended against in the CLP’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee report into the legislation.
The report also recommended against the health care practitioner gag order that the Finocchiaro CLP Government rejected, choosing to ensure in its legislation that the voluntary assisted dying process must be “strictly patient-led, prohibiting practitioners from initiating discussions about assisted dying”.
Australian Christian Lobby NT director Nicholas Lay said last week his group welcomed “the CLP’s departure from LCAC’s recommendations”, adding the changes around eligibility and patient-led discussions were “sensible safeguards”.
It was unclear what influence the ACL has had on the government’s legislation.
Mr Perron had argued against the 12-month timeframe criteria and said the CLP has misjudged the public’s sentiments.
“The government’s management of the VAD issue since coming to office has been inept,” he said.
“They have misjudged the public desire for the Territory to join the rest of Australia by legalising VAD and have procrastinated on the false premise that the subject is difficult to legislate and expensive to implement.”
Mr Perron added that he expects the bill when it is finally introduced to be “overly bureaucratic and restrict eligibility” but said that any VAD legislation passed would be one the majority of MLAs would have to agree to as part of the pledged conscience vote.
“The fact that the Government is introducing the bill is irrelevant. Every MP has the opportunity to move amendments during the committee stages,” he said.
“In processing a bill which is the subject of a ‘conscience vote’, the Parliament is effectively 25 independents, unconstrained by cabinet or political party dictates.
“That’s how democracy is supposed to work.”
The CLP has pledged a free conscience vote on the bill but it remains unclear when the legislation will be presented to Parliament.
Its great to hear from the highly respected Marhsall Perron!
Its quite plain to see this current CLP Administration is no where near the quality of the CLP under Marhsall Perron!!
I wonder if back in 70s and 80s if the CLP Good Ol Boys would have preselected
(A) A Receptionist at a Financial Advisory firm (Boothby) to be the Attorney General!
(B) A Backyard Hairdresser (Hersey) to be Minister of Education (at 1/4 of the Government footprint).
(C) A Nobody With Zero Qualifications and no relevent experience to be the all important Treasurer !!
(D) A superb licenced Sparky to be head of Corporate and Digital Development with multiple failing IT systems!
(E) They would have put a Lawyer Steve EDGINGTON in charge of the Health Department!
Unfortunately with each successive NT Government over the last 40 years, the calibre of political candidates in the NT has slipped so far down the ladder, that it’s hardly worth the effort to vote. Those at the top have their puppet strings pulled by past Politicians who are way past their “use by” date. If we had candidates equal to what Marshall Perron & his team were, we wouldn’t have to deal with what the current lot dish out. Not one of the current CLP Ministers is qualified for the position they hold. Sad state for the NT.
Marshall was a clerk, Roger was a ringer, Ian was a soft drink salesman, Paul was a country LawyerAnd yet Marshall was a clerk, there also were ringers and soft drink salesman, a vet etc
Lived experience is probably a great quality in politicians , not sure that vocational experience is required, advisor’s can often contribute to any knowledge gap IMHO.
Mate! If they have never managed multi million dollar projects you dont think there eyes glaze over when their advisors are talking to them about pros and cons?
Yesterday they where 9 to 5 workers, Now that thet are MLA’s they understand the long term effects of a large investment decision?
It took a un qualified , uneducated Big W Shelf Stacker , one Micheal Gunner, to take the CLP’s $1.6 Billion Debt to $15 Billion with zero to show for it.
Are you talking about distinguished public service executive leader Michael Gunner?
The qualifications for leadership aren’t recorded on a CV or a testamur. Marshall Perron didn’t even finish high school – but if you think his qualifications for leadership are the same as a Branch suckhard whose preselection is a matter of birthright, then you are kidding yourself…
“One of the most respected CLP chief ministers in NT history has publicly criticized the current CLP Government and Attorney-General Maria-Clare Boothby . . . . of being “inept” over handling of the current proposed legislation”.
The Attorney-General may be acting on behalf, not of territorians. Rather more so ‘Carthusian’ in intent?
VAD in NT according to a CLP Member requires eighty six recommendations for an NT proposed legislation. Whilst every other State in Australia (plus ACT) already operative? CLP governance lacks basic respect of and for Aged Territorian(s).
Ageism exists in the Northern Territory as does workplace abuse and bullying … our politicians show their true colours when they run away from responsibility.
We have an ageing population and government must change today.
Boothby would have to be the most vacuous, inappropriate person to have ever held a position as AG anywhere in the history of Australian parliaments. Her comments are inane, grasp on what democratic process really means tenuous at best and outcomes don’t meet the pub test.
I seem to recall her leader saying that something about it being important that voters were widely consulted, so that they got the legislation “right”. That would be the Christian right, I take it? It’s certainly not the “right” of suffering people they have in mind here, and it appears it never was.
Instead we will just repeat the mistakes of other states, make it as difficult as possible for patients to access, though doubtless they will again be walking away from this, patting themselves on the back. What exactly was the point of consulting widely, putting it to a scrutiny committee etc, if they never had any intention of abiding by the findings? What a waste of time and money, not to mention hope.
Hopefully Karma will teach them a life lesson: politics certainly isn’t.
Hello ladies and gentlemen,
I’m with you, We are just so tired of Queen Lia, we are just waiting for the next election so we can show the Lia and the CLP how much we love them!
I sat adjacent to Lia over lunch at the 100 day countdown to the last election, we chatted and l knew l was conversing with a snake! She proved me right- lm known for calling out snakes!
Boothby hmmm she was another form of human, an old chipper pilot taught me “ Daz, always cuddle spiders gently”! I purposely engaged this Boothby thing at Palmerston during the federal election- l was not impressed and yes this thing was most definitely of “ spider” standard!
What a shame the Territory is not represented by a human with the calibre of Marshak Perron ( note- typing in a phone as comments is most difficult in this platform-NT INDEOENDANT l have advised could exercise are far better presentation)!
Territory present governance is nothing short of a North Korean Regine and Labor as opposition have no bloody idea!
Very sad, but let’s just endure m Territorians, we will have our time,.
Keep great
What most distinguished Marshall Perron from the vast majority of contemporary politicians was that he actually listened to the people. For example, thus-alerted to corruption in tourism, he launched the Kennedy Report and then sacked virtually the entire Tourism Commission; a punishment which those crony-ridden and over-lobbied bureaucrats richly deserved. This was democracy in action.
At the time, I very actively supported Marshalls assisted dying legislation and, while researching, discovered the most blatant lobbying by the Catholic and Anglican Churches. When the term ‘conscience vote’ is used, in the real world this means ‘open-slather lobbying’.
Leaping ahead three decades, the world has changed dramatically. A book published in Canada found a 17% increase in take-up rated of assisted dying, with this option pro-actively offered to depressed youths, the aged, and even to children. Behind the scenes the practices of organ-harvesting and adenochroming are burgeoning; and social service ministers have clearly noted the advantages of fewer claimants on the age pension.
Accusations fly in Canada and UK, but I am merely recommending that supporters of the bill make themselves familiar with real-world events rather than react to echoes of history. But one one change in unarguable, at least 30% of the population no longer trusts the medical profession. We all need to do some homework. I hope the Bill passes, but with safeguards against abuse.