July 12, 2025
end of life issues

Nitschke to run for Australian Senate

Michael Cook

Euthanasia activist Dr Philip Nitschke is to run for a Senate seat in the Australian Capital Territory in the upcoming federal election.

Euthanasia activist Dr Philip Nitschke is to run for a Senate seat in the Australian Capital Territory in the upcoming federal election. His Voluntary Euthanasia Party will also field candidates in New South Wales and the Northern Territory. The election could take place any time before December.

Dr Nitschke stood for Parliament in 2007. He contested the seat of Menzies, in Melbourne, which was held by Kevin Andrews, the MP who sank the Northern Territory’s experiment with legal euthanasia in 1996.

Based on figures from a 2009 poll, the VEP claims that “over four in five Australians” are in favour of new legislation on euthanasia. “This election people want a real option, and want to let politicians know how out of touch they’ve been on this issue,” Dr Nitschke told the ABC.

Michael Cook
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