Lyn Allison

Lynette Fay Allison (21 October 1946—) is an Australian politician.

Alison was born in Melbourne, Victoria, the eldest of three children. She was educated at Rosanna High School before attending the University of Melbourne. After graduating with a teaching degree, she taught high school art from 1987-1991.

After unsuccessfully standing as a Greens candidate in the 1990 Victorian elections, she improved her margin in 1994 on a Labour ticket. Allison was elected to the Senate, representing Victoria, in 1996 and served as a Senator until 2008.

Allison is a strong supporter of voluntary euthanasia (Tomazin, 2011). In 2004 she introduced a private members bill seeking to recognise the rights of the territories to legislate for the terminally ill. In the accompanying media statement Allison said:

“In my view individuals should have the right to die at a time and by a means of their own choosing. Euthanasia should be a choice that is freely made by those who wish to die and those who are willing to assist them. I do not seek to impose this on anyone who does not make this choice for themselves. Since this Parliament rode roughshod over legislation passed by the democratically elected Government of the Northern Territory, four other parts of the world have granted the right to die, and legalised voluntary euthanasia. The right to die is a basic human right. Giving people the ability to make their own choice I believe goes to the very heart of what the Democrats stand for: compassion, tolerance and honesty."

(via Wikipedia)

Allison, L. (2004, March 2). Give the terminally ill the right to die with dignity [press release]. Parliament of Australia. https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22media/pressrel/QJTB6%22;src1=sm1

Tomazin, F. (2011, January 5). Relishing the silence of a busy life beyond Parliament. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/national/relishing-the-silence-of-a-busy-life-beyond-parliament-20110104-19f3p.html