Welcome to Exit Australia

In 1996, Dr Nitschke became the first doctor in the world to give legal voluntary euthanasia under the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act of the Northern Territory.

Based in Darwin , Exit Australia operates internationally. Exit was previously known as Exit Australia and the Voluntary Euthanasia Research Foundation.

Censored Kanck Speech to be listed

To read her speech, click HERE

Following the unprecedented behaviour of the SA Parliament today (31st Aug) in passing motions to suppress the speech made by SA MLC Sandra Kanck on 30th Aug, Exit has decided to list the presentation in its entirety on this website.

The Exit website is hosted in New Zealand and is not subject to the provisions of the Suicide Related Materials Act 2005.

Exit has taken this step because it believes that by suppressing the content of the speech, the SA parliament has made it impossible for the public to judge the responsibility of the Kanck presentation.

Exit director Dr Philip Nitschke said, "She will be damned without any chance to defend herself. Her speech was considered and balanced, and explained in detail the problems caused by the Federal government's attempt to suppress end of life information".

The speech will be listed from midday, 1st Sept 2006

Sandra Kanck's Courage Applauded

The decision by South Australian MLC Sandra Kanck to challenge the new Federal Suicide Related Materials Act was a courageous decision, said Exit Director Dr Philip

The Suicide Related Materials Act came into effect on 6 January 2006. The Act makes it a crime for adults to discuss end of life issues on the telephone, fax, email or Internet.

Elderly Exit members believe it is their right to obtain information about their end of life options and this federal legislation denies this right. It makes criminals out of our elderly and people who are seriously ill and seeking an end to their suffering.

Sandra Kanck sought information from Exit Australia about the strategies that people employ and plans to read this material in her speech in parliament. When the electronic version of Hansard is made available there will be a breach of federal law.

Exit receives a continuous flow of requests from the elderly and seriously ill people for information about their end of life options. Many seek information on drugs they might obtain from their doctors, others want to know the ins and outs of traveling to Mexico where the best euthanasia drug (Nembutal) is freely available for purchase. Others want to know how they might use cylinders of disposable helium that can be purchased at any Spotlight store.

Providing accurate information is an essential strategy in harm reduction and this federal legislation drives the flow of information underground and leads to the spread of misinformation. This causes greater suffering.

Read more about these events HERE

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10th Anniversary of Rights of Terminally Ill Act Marked in Darwin

July 1 2006 marks 10 year since the enactment of the world's first Voluntary Euthanasia legislation. The anniversary was marked by a small gathering at the NT parliament, and by a lunchtime gathering at Raintree Park in the centre of Darwin. At that gathering there was a deliberate breach of the new Federal Suicide Related Materials Act.

Unfortunately the Speaker of the NT Assembly Jane Aagaard refused to allow for a display to mark this historic event in the Parliament House foyer. Her willinglness to let her own religous convictions determine public policy is alarming. Read more about these events HERE

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Sign the Petition to Release Dr Jack Kevorkian

Dear Friends,

I have just read and signed the petition: "Release Dr. Jack Kevorkian"

Please take a moment to read about this important issue, and join me in signing the petition. It takes just 30 seconds, but can truly make a difference. We are trying to reach 1,000 signatures - please sign HERE

Once you have signed, you can help even more by asking your friends and family to sign as well.

Thank You!

P.S. Mail this invitation to your entire address book, lets make this happen

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22 Complete the 2nd Nancy's Friends Training Course in Melbourne

On Friday 16 June, 22 new trainees travelled from all states to complete a two day training course in Melbourne and added to the network of Nancy's Friends spread across Australia. Nancy's Friends now has an team of over 40 volunteers in all states and can respond promptly to those seeking their services.

In the two day intensive course trainees were given courses in counselling the dying, the "traveller"/friend relationship, methods of self-deliverance, and the legal obligations of Friends. Graduates from the 1st training course held in Brisbane in November 2005 presented material and described their experiences. Prominent barrister Greg Barns travelled from Hobart to give a lecture on the legal situation in Australia.

For information on Nancy's Friends or to organise a visit from a friend contact Lindy Boyd the National Coordinator on 1300 NANCYS (626297).

For Further Information click HERE

NZ Minister Decision Applauded

The decison by the NZ Minister of Health (2 July 2006) not to proceed with a prosecution under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act as urged by the NZ Medical Council was "a victory for common sense" according to Exit director Philip Nitschke.

The NZ workshops that prompted this attack can now continue. To read the Council's press statement, click HERE.

National Day of Shame 2007

This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act (ROTI).

To commemorate this anniversary, Exit - together with the Voluntary Euthanasia Society of New South Wales is hosting a one day Remembering ROTI conference in Sydney on Friday 22 September (Bob Dent Day). Registrations are now open.

On Monday 26 March 2007 - 10 years to the day after the ROTI Act was overturned by the Australian parliament - a National Day of Shame will be held in Canberra. Full details of this day will be avaiable in forthcoming editions of the Deliverance newsletter.

The ROTI Bill burns, Steps of Parliament House Canberra, 26 March 1997