Survey hints at region’s VAD support

As WA moves closer to legalising voluntary assisted dying, more than half of people in the South West said they would not vote for their Upper House MP if they voted against the bill in parliament.

WA Opinion Polls surveyed 3000 West Australians and found one in two were less likely to vote for their MP if they vote against the bill in parliament.

In the South West that holds true with 54 per cent saying they would be less likely to vote for their MP, regardless of which party they represent, if they voted against the bill.

The majority of those people were Greens supporters, at 78 per cent, followed by 64 per cent for the Nationals.

Upper House members will debate the historic bill in parliament this month with 18 MPs believed to be in favour of the bill.

For the South West this includes MLCs Diane Evers (Greens), Colin Holt (Nationals) and Sally Talbot (Labor).

Ten MP’s are believed to be against the bill, including South West MLC Steve Thomas (Liberals).

Fellow MLCs Colin Tincknell (One Nation) and Adele Farina (Labor) are still on the fence with six other members.

The bill needs 18 votes to pass.

The historic bill has received overwhelming support since its inception in the Lower House this August, where it passed 45-11.

Opinion polls have shown about 80 per cent of the State is for voluntary assisted dying.

The recent data reveals unwavering support of 83 per cent in the South West, with majority in favour or the bill supporting Labor.

According to the recent poll, 75 per cent of South West voters believe their Upper House MP should vote with how the community feels.

Majority of those people support Labor.

But 14 per cent believe their MP should exercise a personal conscience vote.

Majority of South West voters who support the bill are Greens supporters, 96.7 per cent, followed by 90.6 per cent Labor and 86 per cent Nationals.

Seventy-six per cent of South West voters also agree with that going through two independent doctors during the process was a sufficient safeguard.