I was going though the Official Committee Hansard record on the Australian govt website. This committee was set up to examine Australia’s efforts to promote and protect freedom of religion and belief from 15 October 1999. Whilst it has been discussed that this is an example of the Watchtower Society getting involved in politics, I also found it interesting that the Bethel lawyer made the admission that refusing blood can lead to lose of life, and the law should be framed to allow a child to be taken off its parents in these situations. This is very convenient as it protects the child and also the conscience of the JW parent.
Vin Toole, representing the legal department of the Australian Branch of the Watchtower Society makes such an admission below.
“Senator SCHACHT—I see. I just want to turn now to the well-documented case from your point of view about children and the complaint that we have laws in Australia in all states giving medical practitioners the right to overrule the parents. …
Mr Toole— … We are not saying in our recommendation that the law should not exist. What we have said is that there may well be circumstances arise where it does become an absolute life and death issue. We have said that in those circumstances that is the way the law should be framed. In its present form, the law is not framed that way and it allows an invasion of the family and an overruling of the principles of that family in circumstances that really do not call for that at all.”