Bob Such

Dr. Robert Bruce Such (2 June 1944 – 11 October 2014) was a Australian teacher and politician.

Such was raised in Hawthorndene, South Australia and studied at Flinders University, gaining a BA (Hons) in Economics and Politics and a PhD in Environmental Politics, among other qualifications. His early career was at the University of South Australia, employed as a lecturer and researcher ("Bob Such", n.d.).

Such joined the Liberal Party and was elected to the South Australian seat of Fisher at the 1989 elections; he would hold the seat until his death in 2014, although his dissatisfaction at the perceived lack of support from his Liberal parliamentary colleagues meant that he left the party in 2000 and sat as an independent for the next 14 years (Whiting, 2014). 

As an Independent, Such tabled seven voluntary euthanasia bills, all ultimately unsuccessful: the Dignity in Dying Bill 2005; Voluntary Euthanasia Bills in 2006, 2007 and 2008; and the Voluntary Euthanasia Bill 2010. After garnering support from colleagues including Premier Jay Weatherill, his penultimate attempt - theVoluntary Euthanasia Bill 2012 - was narrowly defeated 20-22 (Willmott et al, 2016). He finally tabled two versions of an Ending Life With Dignity Bill (2013 & 2013b).

Such died due to aggressive brain cancer in 2014. In 2021, his widow Lyn Such publicly stated her support for voluntary euthanasia law reform as the South Australian Parliament prepared to vote on the 18th bill considering the matter in 26 years ("MP’s widow backs 18th euthanasia bill bid", 2021).

Bob Such. [n.d.]. The Drum [archived from the original]. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.https://web.archive.org/web/20140210094427/http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/bob-such-36954.html

MP's widow backs 18th euthanasia bid. (2021, April 27). The Australian. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/sa-mps-widow-lyn-such-backs-18th-euthanasia-bill-bid/news-story/2e44971ea8055597f0242d3f29a12bed

Whiting, N. (2014, October 13). Death of key SA independent MP Bob Such opens up difficult by-election [radio broadcast transcript]. ABC radio. https://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2014/s4105591.htm

Willmott, L., White, B., Stackpoole, C., Purser, K., & McGee, A. (2016). (Failed) Voluntary Euthanasia Law Reform in Australia: two decades of trends, models and politics. UNSW Law Journal 39(1): 1-46.