On September 10, the commercial television regulator, Commercials Advice (CAD) withdrew approval for the screening of a pro-euthanasia ad by Exit International on September 12.
Exit International condemned the decision as an attack on free speech. According to its website, Exit International is βa leading end-of-life choices (voluntary euthanasia/ assisted suicide) information and advocacy organisationβ.
CAD lawyer Alison Lee said the ad breached commercial televisionβs code of practice concerning suicide, with βrealistic depiction of methods of suicide, or promotion or encouragement of suicideβ, Lee wrote to Exit International on September 10.
She said the ad meant euthanasia would be considered βa subset of suicideβ.
In the ad, a man looking very ill says: βI didn't choose to starve to death because eating is like swallowing razor blades. I've made my final choice. I just need the government to listen.β
Exit International director Doctor Philip Nitschke said this was a far cry from encouraging or promoting suicide.
βThis is a self-serving argument that effectively places a blanket ban on any mention of the important topic of voluntary euthanasia on commercial televisionβ, he said.
βThe ad is an expression of free speech and political communication. It directly addresses the government and calls for legislative action. To argue otherwise raises the question of whether CAD has an alternative agenda to censor important political debate on issues such as these.β
Exit International said it would submit a modified ad to CAD, drawing attention to the censorship of euthanasia advertising. The banned ad has also been submitted for approval in New Zealand and Canada.
The ad was to be followed by a roll-out of pro-euthanasia billboards, but this has also now hit legal problems.
Section 31C of the NSW Crimes Act says: βA person who aids or abets the suicide or attempted suicide of another person shall be liable to imprisonment for 10 years.β
Billboards Australia has told Exit International legal opinion must be sought before the billboard campaign can go ahead.
The planned billboard read simply: β85% of Australians support Voluntary Euthanasia. Our Government Doesnβt.β
It provided a web address and phone number for Exit International.
The banned ad and billboard can be seen at www.exitinternational.net .