Nowhere in this speech did he address why properly approved dying persons within months of death should not have the right as individuals to choose to end life with a minimum of distress, nor acknowledge the results of public surveys consistently showing that over 80 per cent of the electorate want VAD made available as an option.

Whether well-intentioned or not, the misguided views of the religious right who seem to think that they have a moral authority to deny the wish of the community will not be well received should it result in NSW being cruelly left behind as the only state in Australia where this compassionate legislation is not enacted.

If Joe cannot bring himself to support the bill he should at least have the decency to respect the electorate's wishes by abstaining from voting against it.

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Your piece on Wagga MP Joe McGirr cannot go without some comment from readers ("McGirr says no", The Weekend Advertiser, November 13).

The piece tells about Joe speaking against the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill because, among other ideas, "This law changes how we care for others".

The bill will certainly do that. It will encourage medicos to help patients who are not getting the relief expected from palliative treatment.

As a doctor, he will also know quite well that whilst palliative care has very good intentions, in a lot of cases, it has very little effect on great pain and assisting patient's mental concerns, let alone the family members who are also badly affected.

He must realise that he was voted in to be a representative of his constituents and should vote the way they want him to.

His personal beliefs should not be considered.

I consider Joe to be a very good MP but in this case he has made a serious mistake in not representing a vast majority of his constituents' wishes.

Let's hope he gets re-elected and makes no more errors of judgment like this one.

It's not too late for him to consider his majority of voters.

Polls show the voters to be 76 per cent in favour and 13 per cent against.

This can be checked on line by researching The Australia Institute.

There is an upside to the dreadful state of Pearson Street and Dobney Avenue.

I took a few cars for a test drive last Wednesday and didn't have to go far to see which cars had decent suspension.

Wednesday's International Men's Day is an ideal time to encourage men to become more responsible by committing to marriage and fatherhood.

As men's authority has been reduced, fewer are making these commitments as they understand that responsibility without authority is slavery.

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