4 June 2021
Another Candles for Compassion vigil will be held on the steps of Parliament House next week urging our State MPs to pass the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill.
South Australia is on the cusp of historic Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation after the State’s Lower House last week voted overwhelmingly in favour of moving the Bill through to the Committee stage, 33-5.
Some MPs spoke in Parliament about the emotional and persuasive impact of the testimonies of nurses who care for dying patients and how that had helped move them to vote yes. Having already passed the Upper House, debate will proceed this Wednesday when a number of amendments will be discussed, before a third and deciding vote later that night.
On Wednesday May 26, around 500 people held a Candles for Compassion vigil on the steps of Parliament House in support of VAD, with guest speakers including MPs Kyam Maher and Susan Close, who both introduced the Bill, and media personality Andrew Denton.
This Wednesday’s vigil – to run from 5.30pm to 6.30pm - will provide an opportunity to show silent support for the legislation and the hope for a compassionate law to offer terminally ill people - who are suffering with no prospect of relief - a humane end-of-life choice.