'I don't know why they've deserted us'

Holding back tears, Melbourne woman Cath Ringwood was unequivocal in her thinking about the voluntary assisted dying legislation set to fail in Parliament today.

``It makes me very angry because I think if they were in my shoes they'd feel differently,'' she said.

Ms Ringwood was moved by a chance to consider an alternative future alongside Philip Nitschke, the leader of euthanasia advocacy group Exit International, in Hobart today.

The pair visited Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art to view a replica of Dr Nitschke's ``deliverance machine, a computerised machine which in a clinical setting would allow the user to take their own life with a minimum of distress.

It was a coming together of Dr Death and the museum of Sex and Death while the parliament considers the most morbid of topics; how people can spend their final days with a terminal illness.

For Dr Nitschke, it was a final effort to bring the issues of suffering people to the minds of parliamentarians.

``It's an historic day in Tasmania which is why were here. It's eighteen years since we saw the world's first legislation in the Northern Territory... its got relevance for all Australians,'' he said.

Dr Nitschke, anticipating a defeat ``unless a miracle occurs today'', said Tasmanian parliamentarians had not brought forward any compelling arguments against the law.

``No issues I haven't heard before; but they're valid arguments and need to be debated... I think its a very safe conservative piece of legislation.

Ms Ringwood, of Melbourne, was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia 13 years ago, and breast cancer two years ago. Since that diagnosis, her leukaemia has been transformed into a more aggressive threat.

``The legislation here is very important. It would mean the end of suffering for many Australians, including myself, who are facing uncertain futures,'' Ms Ringwood said.

``It's hard to understand why parliaments consistently deny what the majority of Australians want.''

Ms Ringwood said the machine, one of MONA's most talked about exhibits, gave her a glimpse of a peaceful and loving death.

``The thought that I could have a machine to end the suffering, to deliver me from the inevitable indignities and trials of end-stage disease is just a wonderful thought.''

``Not gasping for breath in a hospital bed with drips in me, feeling really sick, or perhaps having a pathological fracture for which I'm in traction and cant operate on me.''

However, that thought will not become reality with a majority of House of Assembly members signalling they will vote against the bill proposed by Greens leader Nick McKim and Premier Lara Giddings.

Dr Nitschke, who said he had not attempted to lobby MPs directly, had no doubt why that would be the case.

``Why have they all lost, the eighteen attempts so far, it's a hard one.''

``One has to believe that it's obviously the well organised opposition from predominantly religious organisations who have been able to point out to politicians that if you vote for this legislation you will attract the ire of the church.''

``No politician wants that on their CV.''

Debate continues on the bill today.