Internationally renowned euthanasia activist Dr Philip Nitschke intends to stand for a seat in the Federal Senate in a national election scheduled for September 14.

Internationally renowned euthanasia activist Dr Philip Nitschke intends to stand for a seat in the Federal Senate in a national election scheduled for September 14. He is still uncertain which state he will stand. Behind him he has a fledging party, the Voluntary Euthanasia Party, which will probably have candidates on the ballot in New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania.

Dr Nitschke has stood for Parliament before, but for a seat in the lower house. His chances are small, but the election will provide abundant publicity for his cause.

By coincidence, another activist, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange also plans to run for the Senate. Both men have legal actions hanging over their heads. Dr Nitschke is fighting complaints to the government over his involvement in assisted suicide and euthanasia and Mr Assange, who jumped bail and is hiding in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, is fighting extradition to Sweden to face charges of sexual assault. 

Michael Cook
Creative commons
Philip Nitschke

• Author
• Recent Posts

Michael Cook

Latest posts by Michael Cook (see all)

• Queensland legalises ‘assisted dying’ - September 19, 2021
• Is abortion a global public health emergency? - April 11, 2021
• Dutch doctors cleared to euthanise dementia patients who have advance directives - November 22, 2020