Sandra Kanck
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sandra Kanck is an Australian politician and an Australian Democrats member in the South Australian Legislative Council since 1993, and was re-elected for a second eight-year term in the 2002 election.
Kanck considers herself to be an occasional singer, former teacher, social justice campaigner, and environmentalist.
Kanck recently caused some controversy for her comments on MDMA in therapeutic cases[1], in which she advocated the therapeutic use of MDMA (misidentified as ecstasy in the media). An appearance on jtv, recording her experience at the "Winter Enchanted" rave party, dispelled many misconceptions about her views on drug use and harm minimisation.
Kanck has again come under criticism for talking about suicide methods during a parliamentary speech on legalising voluntary euthanasia,[2] however her speech was suppressed from the internet record through a legislative council vote passing the motion, 10 votes to 9 votes (with 2 voting in pair)[3]. Labor, Family First, No Pokies Nick Xenophon and Ann Bressington voted for, whilst the Liberals, Green Mark Parnell and Kanck voted against. Despite this, her speech has been published on a New Zealand host.[4].
Kanck has announced that she will not re-contest her seat at the 2010 election[5], though she has circulated a letter to members stating that she will not surrender her seat (as previously agreed with the party executive).
