CANBERRA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- If West Australian (WA) politicians followed the view of the public, a bill to legalize euthanasia in the state would pass parliament in a landslide, Greens lawmaker Robin Chapple said on Monday.
Parliamentary debate on the Voluntary Euthanasia Bill will begin on Tuesday, with both the WA Premier Colin Barnett and Opposition Leader Eric Ripper allowing a conscience vote on the issue.
If parliament passes the bill, WA will be the first state in Australia to legalize euthanasia.
The bill, introduced by Chapple, would allow any terminally ill West Australian over the age of 21 and of "sound mind" to elect to be euthanised.
Under the bill, a request for the administration of euthanasia would only apply to a person who has a terminal illness that will cause death within two years and is experiencing considerable pain.
Chapple said society's opinion on the issue had matured, and he believed that between 85 and 90 percent of the WA public supported euthanasia.
"If parliament was to follow the wishes of the community then it would pass with a landslide, but I don't think it will be the case," Chapple told Australian Associated Press on Monday.
However, the stringency of the proposed legislation had angered some voluntary euthanasia groups who believe the bill would make it too hard for euthanasia to be requested and administered.
"This isn't a bill to appease voluntary euthanasia groups," Chapple said. "And if there is a loophole in it, I need to know about it.
"Amendments that do anything to strengthen, tighten or enhance the legislation will be welcomed with open arms."
The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) has also been openly campaigning against the bill, having sent more than 1,200 emails to WA's upper house MPs.
The ACL's WA director, Michelle Pearse, said a person's life could not be measured, regardless of a person's physical or emotional state.
"Legalizing euthanasia seeks to put a measure on the value of human lives rather than affirming its worth even in the most difficult circumstances," Pearse said in a statement.
