Colleen Hartland

What's happening?

On Wednesday August 11, Victorian Greens MLC Colleen Hartland will be presenting a motion for review of the Medical Treatment Act to the Upper House of the Victorian Parliament, the Victorian Legislative Council.

Such a motion is an important step towards changing the law in the state and eventually providing everyday Victorians with the freedom to end their lives with dignity and in the manner of their choice.

Dying With Dignity Victoria wants to make sure that other parties and senators do not let the importance of this motion get lost in the pre-election hubbub and need your support to bring this to their attention.

Update: The motion is now scheduled to be received on September 1.

Who is Colleen Hartland?

Colleen is a Greens MLC representing the Western Metropolitan Region of Victoria in the Victorian Government's Upper House.

She has been a longtime supporter of dying with dignity and introduced a private members bill to legalise physician assisted dying in 2007. Colleen has spoken at previous Steve Guest Day rallies about the urgent need for law reform in Victoria.

Throughout her career, Colleen has had strong ties to community views and values and has spent time working in public housing support and as member of local government in the Maribyrnong Council.

As a member of the Greens, Colleen oversees many important policy areas including: aged care,
community services, disability rights, health and mental health among many others.

You can find out more about Colleen via her website.

What's in the motion?

“That this House requires the Family and Community Development Committee to inquire into, consider and report on the provisions of the Medical Treatment Act 1988 relating to end-of-life medical treatment and palliative care options, with particular regard to —

(a) whether those provisions are sufficient to meet contemporary community expectations;

(b) whether those provisions are sufficient to prevent end of life suffering;

(c) whether those provisions continue to facilitate and support best practice;

(d) input from a variety of stakeholders and the community; and

(e) whether to make recommendations to the Attorney-General to refer any matter to the Victorian Law Reform Commission.”

What can I do to help?

Step 1:

Look up your upper house region.

Step 2:

Email the MLC members of your region let them know that you support this motion.

Eastern Metropolitan Region

Eastern Victoria Region

Northern Metropolitan Region

Northern Victoria Region

South Eastern Metropolitan Region

Southern Metropolitan Region

Western Metropolitan Region

Western Victoria Region

Step 3:

You can attend the MLC sitting in the public gallery on Wednesday to show your support.

The Legislative Council is the red chamber on the right as you enter Parliament House, which is located at the T-intersection of Bourke and Spring Streets in East Melbourne.

For people using public transport, the nearest train station is Parliament.

DWDV IS NOT ABLE TO HELP
PEOPLE END THEIR LIVES