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Labor senator and the father of Aboriginal reconciliation, Pat Dodson, has voiced his serious concerns about the voluntary assisted dying bill likely to pass WA’s parliament.

In a passionate plea, the First Nations leader put pen to paper, declaring “Aboriginal people do not need a new avenue to death” in Saturday’s Weekend Australian. He is the first major Labor figure to speak out against the bill.

His criticism echoes that surrounding other recent pro-death bills put through our nation’s parliaments: it was too rushed, and didn’t allow for enough consultation. From Dodson’s article:

“There are significant deficiencies in this bill and the process that has led to it. Consultations with First Nations have not been conducted well; stakeholder submissions were not made to an exposure draft of the bill.”

Adding to this, Dodson remarked, “That’s not a way to really consult with First Nations people on a complicated issue like this.” But he had other concerns too.

It ignores First Nations understandings of civil society

In Australia, issues like euthanasia are often debated in the framework of individual rights. But according to Dodson,

“Such a perspective emphasises the rights of an individual and ignores the wider influence of such decisions on those around them—families, friends and communities.”

He labels this a failure to recognise Aboriginal ideas on civil society. Sanctity of life, he says,

“has much resonance with our perspectives and First Nations have respected it. Now, with little education or explanation we are confused as to why a change is necessary.”

Dodson explains that

“Aboriginal people’s unique conception of life and death, their holistic understanding of health, and their fundamentally collectivist nature is part of their concept of civil society.”

In other words, if Aboriginal perspectives are going to be considered in public debate, we have to move beyond the “my body, my right” rhetoric that sanctity-of-life issues are often reduced to.

It adds to First Nations fears of whitefella medicine

Pat Dodson also believes that legalised euthanasia will add to the fear already felt by many Aboriginal people towards ‘whitefella’ medicine:

“People are very suspicious of the whole (health) system generally. If they find it is associated with potentially the capacity to end your life, as much as to save it, I am fearful people will then—despite their need—start to move away.”

In making his warning, he indicated that this was the experience of Aboriginal people when the Northern Territory legalised euthanasia from 1995-97.

It opens another avenue of death for First Nations people

The senator’s most powerful case against legalised euthanasia was that it only adds to an already-long list of obstacles to the longevity of Indigenous Australians:

“First Australians live shorter lives. Their babies are likelier to die of preventable diseases. They watch their friends, cousins and siblings prematurely end their own lives. They have had their hearts broken too often when there is a “death in custody” because of misjudgment, prejudice or ignorance as their culture faces power and authority.

“One simply cannot bear witness to this reality—where First Nations are overrepresented at every stage of our health and criminal justice systems—and put forward another avenue to death. As representatives and legislators, surely we must be focusing our attention on enacting laws that help prolong life and restore the right to enjoy a healthy life.”

In making his point, Dodson quoted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, article 24.2, which states:

“Indigenous individuals have an equal right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. States shall take the necessary steps with a view to achieving progressively the full realisation of this right.”

Pat Dodson is right when he says that this legislation is a step in the wrong direction.

“I urge all West Australian parliamentarians to consider the importance of the decision before them. This cannot be business as usual.”

Last month, the legislation passed in the lower house by 44 votes to 12. The vote is expected to be tighter in the Legislative Council.

If you live in WA, make sure you contact your senators. Family Voice have made the process easy at this link.