Parliament has started hearing submissions on the End of Life Choice Bill, and if the last round of submissions is anything to go by, they’ll hear a lot of opposition. In response, MPs may be tempted to think they can fix the Bill—narrowing the scope, tightening the wording, maybe limiting it to terminal illness and Read more
On Wednesday, the MP was asked to share his thoughts on whether Matariki should become one of New Zealand’s public holidays. “I think people should be able to make their own holiday arrangements. We don’t need the Government to tell us when to take the day off.” Read more
“What is clear is that this Bill intends to go beyond terminal illness; what is unclear is exactly what conditions are in or out,” says the Disability Rights Commissioner. “It is readily apparent that the scope is unclear and misunderstood,” said Paula Tesoriero. Paula Tesoriero published a scathing assessment of David Seymour’s End of Life Read more
Act Party leader and Epsom MP David Seymour has been accused of fuelling prejudice after he sent a letter to constituents warning that tenants in a new housing development could have mental health issues. Seymour stands by the letter, saying that the social housing development had a history of anti-social behaviour and he was “telling Read more
David Seymour claims that submissions opposing his bill are the result of a campaign of “Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt” from an anti –assisted dying lobby spouting mistruths about the bill. He is seeking to influence the Justice Select Committee to reject submissions and in so doing undermining the democratic process. Seymour’s baseless allegations are deeply Read more
ACT party leader David Seymour says if his party helps form the next Government, beneficiaries who “keep having children” will have their financial freedom taken away. Speaking in the minor party leaders debate last Saturday Seymour said having babies while on the benefit was an “outrage” to working parents, and “the biggest driver of child poverty Read more
An extreme version of a very bad idea is how Matthew Jansen describes David Seymour’s “End of Life Choice Bill”. Jansen, Secretary of the Care Alliance made the comment in a media release, 12 July, launching the “Ten questions for David Seymour” campaign. The campaign, designed to prompt New Zealand Members of Parliament to give Read more
Sir Geoffrey, a former prime minister and well respected lawyer has suggested family court judges rather than doctors should make any final decision when it come to ending a person’s life. However, ACT Party leader David Seymour said there was no need for its inclusion in his bill to legalise assisted suicide. The bill is Read more
The suitability of a Catholic MP to chair a parliamentary select committee’s inquiry into ending one’s life in New Zealand has been questioned. National MP Simon O’Connor is chair of the Health Select Committee, which is considering the issue in response to a petition by former MP Maryan Street and others. Mr O’Connor once studied for Read more