National Day of Shame

Issue 

A "freedom ride" from Sydney to Canberra will be held on March 25 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Howard government's overturning of the Northern Territory's voluntary euthanasia law, the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act (ROTI).

On September 22, 1996, terminally ill Darwin man Bob Dent
became the first person in the world to receive a
legal, lethal, voluntary injection. His peaceful and
dignified death occurred under the ROTI law.

The law lasted only five months before being overturned
by Kevin Andrews' private member's bill on March 27, 1997. With the cessation on the ROTI act, terminally ill people in Australia lost their ability to seek medical assistance to die peacefully at a time and place of their choosing.

Buses with banners will leave Sydney on March 25. The next day, an open letter and a condolence book containing statements from people across Australia about end-of-life choices will be presented at Parliament House. A street action will follow and a memorial dinner with guest speaker Philip Adams will be held that evening.

The National Day of Shame is a joint initiative of EXIT International (founded by Dr Philip Nitschke after the overturning of ROTI) and the Voluntary Euthanasia Society of NSW.

If you want to participate in the freedom ride/National Day of Shame, please contact EXIT International, phone 1300 103 948 or email <contact@exitinternational.net> or visit <http://www.exitinternational.net>.

If you like our work, become a supporter

Green Left is a vital social-change project and aims to make all content available online, without paywalls. With no corporate sponsors or advertising, we rely on support and donations from readers like you.

For just $5 per month get the Green Left digital edition in your inbox each week. For $10 per month get the above and the print edition delivered to your door. You can also add a donation to your support by choosing the solidarity option of $20 per month.

Freecall now on 1800 634 206 or follow the support link below to make a secure supporter payment or donation online.