There are however conditions which cannot be managed by available means such as terminal cancer of the throat where the sufferer has a choking mass preventing swallowing, impairing breathing and making speech almost impossible. This can go on for weeks and, if we allowed one of our pets to suffer in such a way, we would rightfully be charged with animal cruelty.   

Motor Neurone Disease with the progressive, inexorable paralysis of all the body’s muscles is another example and a former patient with a rapidly progressive form of MS shot himself after asking for euthanasia from me.   As a result of seeing such horrors I became a member of Doctors for Assisted Dying Choice which advocates the measures in the bill. It is to be hoped that Members give the Bill, which is well designed and, if anything too cautious, their unbiased consideration as free as possible from entrenched pre-judgments.

WHILE I understand the attraction of reopening the disused rail line to Scottsdale, my experience of bike riding and touring in Japan shows that converting lines that are not economic to bicycle rail trails has been a smart move.

Japan has recognised the economic and transport benefits of cycling. The recent Northern Tasmanian Cycle Tourism Strategy, endorsed by the government and the peak tourism body, recognises that the North East Rail Trail is a key driver for a tourism lead revival for the struggling North East region. Forecast demand, based on solid experience from successful trails in Victoria and overseas, projects 23,000 people walking and riding the NERT when it is fully established. This will complement the highly successful Derby Mountain Bike trails. No one can deny the benefit that this form of tourism has brought to Derby.

What also must be remembered is that the bike riders and walkers will pass through, stop and support towns along the trail whereas the train would basically only service Scottsdale. Rails Trails are relatively cheap to establish and maintain and are free to use. Rail lines are closing around the world or are expensive for tourists and are heavily subsidised by governments. Our own West Coast Wilderness Railway is heavily subsidised due to insufficient passengers, it is hard to accept that the state government would be able to support two railways.

Let’s accept the reality that the best use of the corridor is for a walking and cycling trail that will encourage healthy activity for locals and visitors and revitalise northern communities.

IT APPEARS the Coalition will need crossbench votes in the Senate to pass many of its budget measures, in particular the One Nation votes. Can it be just coincidence that the coalition have chosen to change 457 visas, citizenship requirements and now the crackdown on 7500 “fake refugees”, according to Peter Dutton. Of course you blame the previous Labor government although the Coalition has been in power for nearly four years. It would be interesting to learn how the the income assistance is calculated as if all 7500 were receiving such funds this equates, by my calculations to $33,300 a year or $640 per week, twice the amount a married pensioner receives.