Suicide campaigner pulls in crowd

Dr Phillip Nitschke from Exit International delivers a seminar at the Civic Centre.

Max Fleet

A PACKED Supper Room at the Bundaberg Civic Centre heard assisted suicide campaigner Dr Phillip Nitschke put his case at a seminar yesterday.

The mostly elderly crowd of more than 300 people listened intently as Dr Nitschke, a lively and entertaining speaker, put his message across.

Many stayed on for a workshop later at which Dr Nitschke explained in detail how to go about ending one's life.

Dr Nitschke said after the meeting the numbers of people at his seminars and meetings were swelling as Australia's population aged.

"We are getting bigger and bigger crowds," he said.

"People say they want to have their own strategies in place if they need them."

He said many people were frustrated that governments would not change laws to allow assisted suicide.

During the seminar Dr Nitschke outlined the many options for ending one's life.

He spokes about a drug, freely available in Mexico, which was one of the easiest ways.

"I see a lot of people who get the drug and it puts them back in control, so they don't take it," he said.

"They know they've got a safety net if things get too bad."

Dr Nitschke told the crowd suicide was not a crime, but no one could help them die.

He pointed out there were several places overseas where assisted suicide was legal, but most, except Switzerland, had residential requirements.

"Several Australians have gone to Zurich and there'll be another one soon," he said.

Dr Nitschke said there had been a lot of unsuccessful attempts to change the law in Australia.

After the meeting audience member Mike Hanlon said he enjoyed it very much.

He said it reinforced his view that nothing gave politicians the right to sit on a pedestal and judge the decisions he might make.

"It opened some doors for me," he said.

"It gave me some options in times to come."

Rob Fishlock said he thought Dr Nitschke's talk was excellent.

He said he did not understand why politicians had the right to restrict people who wanted to die.

He said they should not restrict personal freedom.