1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: Now. Three weeks ago, the Attorney General requested a parliamentary 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: committee conduct an inquiry into the final report by an 3 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:11,719 Speaker 1: expert advisory panel on voluntary assisted dying in the Northern Territory. 4 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:16,479 Speaker 1: Since then, the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee has met twice, 5 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:22,320 Speaker 1: focusing on preparing a consultation paper and consulting with remote communities. 6 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: Now joining me in the studio is the committee chair, 7 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: Tansel Rahman. Good morning to your Tansel. 8 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 2: Good morning, Keaty. 9 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: Good to have you in the studio. Good to meet 10 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: you in. 11 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,159 Speaker 2: Person finally, Yes, I'm pleased to have met with you 12 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 2: finally as well in person. 13 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: Now, it's really good to see you. Now tell me 14 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: what is the scope of the inquiry. 15 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 2: The scope of the inquiry that we were provided by 16 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:46,880 Speaker 2: the Attorney General is essentially fivefold. It's one to prepare 17 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 2: a consultation paper. Two to consult with communities, particularly those 18 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 2: out in remote areas. Three to evaluate VAD models and 19 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 2: safeguards for to identify any challenges that are anti specific 20 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 2: and then five, if appropriate, to provide drafting instructions for 21 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 2: model legislation. 22 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: Now, in terms of the consultation and heading out to 23 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: remote communities, so I mean we have got so many 24 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: wonderful remote communities around the Northern Territory. How are you 25 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 1: going to get out to all of those? How are 26 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: you going to consult as many people as possible? 27 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 2: Well, with careful planning, that's the first thing. We have 28 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 2: a time limited inquiry. We've been asked to come back 29 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 2: and report back to the Attorney General at the end 30 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 2: of September. As you know, this is a very congested 31 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,040 Speaker 2: time of year with a lot of things happening. Budget 32 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 2: estimates will take over the next few weeks of Parliament 33 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 2: and then the dry season in July. There's lots of 34 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 2: activity as you know as well. So what we're doing 35 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:40,320 Speaker 2: is using this time to get all the preparatory work 36 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 2: done in the background, so that essentially we'll be on 37 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 2: the road for the best part of August trying to 38 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 2: do consultations in as many places as we can that 39 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 2: are have not really seen consultations done on the ground 40 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 2: in the past, so that will mean necessarily going out 41 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 2: to remote areas. We obviously can't go everywhere, but what 42 00:01:57,800 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 2: we'll be trying to do is go to if you like, 43 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 2: hublowas and then focus on spokes around them and try 44 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 2: and cover as much ground as we can reasonably within 45 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 2: that timeframe. 46 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: And is that why the different land councils are really 47 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 1: the first that you're going to be speaking with in 48 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: terms of, you know, getting this all underway. 49 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 2: That's exactly right. So I think what's important to understand 50 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 2: here first off, is that this issue is now in 51 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 2: the hands of a parliamentary committee that's been assigned the task. 52 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 2: There are five of us on the committee, three from 53 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 2: the COLP, one from Labor, one Green, and we are 54 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 2: all trying to work cooperatively together to make sure that 55 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 2: we depoliticize the issue and try and get a result 56 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 2: for Territorians on this because frankly, there's been no actional 57 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 2: attraction in this area in the best part of twenty 58 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 2: five years. And so what we are looking to do is, 59 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 2: you know, work together essentially to make sure that we've 60 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 2: got the right plans in place. 61 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 1: I know you said then, you know there hasn't been 62 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 1: any action in this space, but you know, we first off, 63 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:54,359 Speaker 1: I suppose we were the first many many years ago 64 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: to actually implement voluntary assisted dying legislation in the Northern Territory. 65 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 1: Is any of that work that was done by Marshall 66 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 1: Paren being looked ash and being utilized. 67 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 2: Sure, I mean, this inquiry is not in place to 68 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 2: replace everything that's happened in the last thirty years. It's 69 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 2: to provide a final sweep of supplementary information. Now, if 70 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 2: you just remember the quick chronology, Marshall Paren's Private Member's 71 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 2: Bill was done in nineteen ninety five, Kevin Andrews Private 72 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 2: Member's Bill which overturned that is issue by the Federal 73 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 2: Parliament was done in nineteen ninety seven. And then nothing 74 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 2: happened essentially for twenty two years, or could happen until 75 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 2: the Act was passing Parliament in twenty twenty two to 76 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 2: allow us to legislate in this space again. Now, since 77 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 2: that time, neither major party or any individual has sought 78 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 2: fit to put any legislation in the House, and so 79 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 2: now we've got the opportunity to progress this as a 80 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 2: bipartisan committee TANSIL. 81 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: This is a topic that for a lot of Territorians, 82 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 1: and I understand that there are some who will be 83 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 1: opposed to a voluntary assisted dying for various reasons, potentially 84 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: religious reasons. I know that, you know, I feel pretty 85 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: passionately that I think that it is something that you 86 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: should have the right to make that decision yourself, particularly 87 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: you know those that are going through terminal illness and 88 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 1: have been sick for a very long time and potentially 89 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 1: suffering for a very long time. And I also know 90 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: that you know, our palliative care teams across the Northern 91 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: Territory are absolutely incredible. There is no other way to 92 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:26,720 Speaker 1: put it. Anybody that's gone through palliative care or seen 93 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: those doctors, nurses staff in action here in the NT 94 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 1: would attest in exactly the same way that I can, 95 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 1: having seen my dad go through it. But I do 96 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 1: just feel as though we are again sort of dragging 97 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: our heels. I know there'll be other people that are 98 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 1: thinking that listening this morning. Wa'ts your message to anybody 99 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 1: that is feeling like that that's listening and going, why 100 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: are we going through another consultation process? 101 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 2: Well, a couple of things to say there. First of all, 102 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 2: even though every other state and territory does have legislation 103 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: about this, they haven't had it for thirty years. Everyone's 104 00:04:57,960 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 2: had it for the best part of the last three 105 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 2: or four. It's all pretty recent everywhere. It is true 106 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 2: that we are now the last place in Australia that 107 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 2: doesn't have legislation in this space, and so I think 108 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 2: there is a desire to want to provide a legislative 109 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 2: solution in this space. Whatever that might look like. Regarding 110 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 2: support for it, well, every MLA will have to test 111 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 2: their own electric to find out what sort of mood 112 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 2: that people have for legislation in this space. And so 113 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 2: I can't speak to any other electric, but I know 114 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 2: in my own electric of fong Limb, there are lots 115 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:28,839 Speaker 2: of people who contact me saying we'd really like you 116 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 2: to do something on the issue of that. Having said that, 117 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:33,359 Speaker 2: there is the odd person as well who has concerns 118 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 2: and you need to hear all of that out. So 119 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 2: it's not that we're thirty years behind the rest of 120 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 2: the country. We're probably a couple of years behind the 121 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 2: last states and territories that legislated in the space only 122 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 2: a couple of years ago. 123 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, look, I agree with you. You know, even like 124 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: I said, even on our tech sign at different times, 125 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: we do have people contact us saying, you know, Katie, 126 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: like I don't agree with voluntary assisted dying for whatever reason, 127 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,720 Speaker 1: and I respect that, absolutely respect the fact that everybody's 128 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: got different opinions. Well, in terms of you know, inte 129 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,479 Speaker 1: the people that have been invited to brief the committee 130 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 1: next month. I touched on that a moment ago in 131 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 1: terms of the different land councils, but who. 132 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:13,159 Speaker 2: Else, So yes, sorry, I didn't answer that question very well. 133 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 2: The reason that we've approached these people in the first 134 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 2: instance is because we've been specifically tasked to go out 135 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:19,839 Speaker 2: to remote areas. You don't want to go out to 136 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 2: remote areas without being invited and without working with the 137 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:24,599 Speaker 2: people who work out there all the time. And so 138 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 2: that's why in the first instance, on the seventh of July, 139 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 2: when we have our next formal meeting, we've asked the 140 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 2: chairs of the last inquiry to come and brief us 141 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 2: to help guide us, as well as the CEO of 142 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 2: AMSAND which is the peak body in that space, as 143 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 2: well as the land councils. And that's just a starting 144 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 2: place to check in with administrative stakeholders that are key 145 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:46,360 Speaker 2: if you like. After that, there will of course be 146 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 2: an open process for people to be able to write 147 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 2: written submissions and or come and present themselves at public hearings. 148 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 1: Tansel. In terms of those that were on the you know, 149 00:06:56,839 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: the former body or the former working group committing I think, yes, 150 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 1: that's what that's the word. I'm looking for those that 151 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 1: were on the expert panel. Are they pretty positive about 152 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 1: this step or how are they feeling because I know 153 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 1: I've spoken to some of those, well at least one 154 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 1: of those committee members who you know, who's concerned about 155 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 1: how long this is all taking. 156 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 2: My engagement with them has been minimal, to be very 157 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 2: frank so far. It's been a case of writing, you know, 158 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 2: and doing everything by the book, if you like, on 159 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 2: behalf of our committee to write to the former administrative 160 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 2: Vikio Hallerin and to Duncan McConnell SC to essentially ask 161 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 2: them to brief us first as subject matter experts who 162 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 2: oversaw the last inquiry. So it's not that I've gone 163 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 2: out and litmus tested what everybody has to say about it, 164 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 2: because the truth is, as soon as this was announced, 165 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 2: I was flooded with inquiries from all over the place 166 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 2: of people who know me personally or might be in 167 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 2: my electorates saying hey, I want to tell you what 168 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 2: I think. And my answer to everyone is the same, 169 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:53,200 Speaker 2: thank you for your thoughts and send it onto the committee. 170 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 2: When submissions open. Yeah, and that's what we have to do. 171 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 2: My job here is not to you know it stood up. No, 172 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 2: it's to facilitate the process in a fair and impartial 173 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 2: way and to make sure that we essentially designed the project. Well, 174 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 2: it's a research design project at this stage, and then 175 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 2: it becomes about executing it and then about putting it together. 176 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: Like, how are you feeling about? You know, this is 177 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: such an important piece of legislation. It is something that 178 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: a lot, like we've touched on a lot of people 179 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 1: feel really passionately about or quite concerned with. I mean, 180 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 1: how you sort of personally feeling about this now being 181 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: the task that is you know, at your hands to 182 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: get underway and to make happen. 183 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 2: OK, I'll give you a little scoop. I'm pretty excited actually, 184 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 2: because not for nothing, but the very first piece of 185 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 2: research work I ever did, albeit as a kid, was 186 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:43,679 Speaker 2: a research report about euthanasia, voluntary euthanasia in the Northern 187 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 2: Territory and whether people who are terminally ill should have 188 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 2: access to it. Now, that was work I did as 189 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 2: a kid, but I've always had an interest in this area. 190 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 2: I think it's a really important area. And you know, 191 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 2: thirty years ago. When I did that work, I ultimately 192 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 2: concluded that this is an issue that Astrada should probably 193 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 2: start grappling with sooner rather than later. Thirty years later, 194 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:01,599 Speaker 2: here we still are, so to have the opportunity to 195 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 2: work collaboratively with my parliamentary peers and try and bring 196 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 2: some resolution to this issue. Finally, for territorians is a 197 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 2: real honor. 198 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 1: Isn't that interesting for you? That's like a real full 199 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 1: circle moment. 200 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 2: I really didn't think it was. You know, Thank goodness 201 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:16,679 Speaker 2: for the fact that my dad doesn't throw anything out 202 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 2: of the house. We managed to find that report, and 203 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 2: in the interest of disclosure, I should probably put it 204 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 2: on my website soon so that people can have a 205 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 2: look if they want to see where my con Oh. Look, 206 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:28,319 Speaker 2: I mean, it's as good as a research report for 207 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 2: a forty year old is going to be, I imagine. But 208 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 2: you know I did. I designed surveys, and I spoke 209 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:35,839 Speaker 2: to doctors and religious leaders and you know that sort 210 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:37,679 Speaker 2: of thing, and ultimately write a big report up saying that, 211 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 2: you know, we should probably think about doing something in 212 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 2: the euphanasia space anyway, As I said, I wouldn't want 213 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 2: I say that slightly in jest, but also slightly in seriousness, 214 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 2: because it is a great opportunity to bring to resolution 215 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:50,960 Speaker 2: something that hasn't been dealt with for a long time. 216 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, and something that a lot of people feel really 217 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 1: passionately about it. And you know, I always think, if 218 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:00,120 Speaker 1: you know, if my dad was still alive and still 219 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 1: battling cancer and in those final stages of his life, 220 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: I don't think he would have gone down that path. 221 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: I think he would have chosen to just be cared 222 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:13,200 Speaker 1: for through palliative care. But again, it's that choice, and 223 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 1: I think that, you know, for me, I feel very 224 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: passionately about that. And I think that if you are 225 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 1: a family that maybe has a loved one right now 226 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 1: that he is going through those final stages of life, 227 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: you really, you know, you'd be It's such an important 228 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 1: and important piece of legislation. 229 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:33,719 Speaker 2: It could be an important piece of legislation if we 230 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 2: get to it being a piece of legislation. But to 231 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 2: get it to that stage, we need to go through 232 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:41,119 Speaker 2: this process. And I think, given the seriousness of the issue, 233 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 2: it's not unreasonable to take a couple more months to 234 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 2: try and do this. And so I'm keen, I'm keen 235 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 2: for territories to know that they should take heart in 236 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 2: the process that we're working together to try and get 237 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 2: to a resolution. 238 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 1: Chansel something there to the former Attorney General Chancey Paik 239 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 1: said on the show this morning. Throughout the week that 240 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 1: was he said that really the government should have a 241 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: draft exposure bill that they are going out and consulting 242 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:07,200 Speaker 1: people on rather than just sort of going out with 243 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: He wasn't sure, is it a set of questions? What 244 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: exactly will you be going out with? 245 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:15,719 Speaker 2: Well, the you know, Member for Gudge is entitled to 246 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 2: his opinion and I don't want to politicize the issue, 247 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 2: but I'm simply going to say that the former government, 248 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:24,559 Speaker 2: Labor government, if they wanted to, could have also introduced 249 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:27,319 Speaker 2: a bill into the House, but they chose not to. Likewise, 250 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:28,960 Speaker 2: the government that I'm a part of has chosen not 251 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:31,320 Speaker 2: to do that. Now why they've chosen not to make 252 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:33,959 Speaker 2: it their own issue is for them to determine, right, 253 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:35,320 Speaker 2: But the fact is no one has done it. So 254 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:37,760 Speaker 2: rather than looking backwards, I'm trying to look forward constructively. 255 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 2: Now that's really what we have to work with. I think, 256 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 2: you know, this has always been a matter of conscience 257 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 2: and it's a serious matter of voluntary assisted dying, and so, 258 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 2: as I say, no political party, no individual has wanted 259 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 2: to champion it in their own right. This offers an 260 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 2: opportunity to in a bipartisan way, with a bipartisan committee, 261 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 2: to put forward, you know, instructions for legislation, which then 262 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 2: the government will respond to in due course I imagine. 263 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: Well, Tansel Rahman, the obviously the VAD Steering Committee Chair 264 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 1: and member for Fonglimb, good to catch up with you 265 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: this morning. Thanks so much for your. 266 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 2: Time, Thanks for having me here. 267 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:15,079 Speaker 1: Thank you