The case of Elaine Arch-Rowe, an 81-year-old former coordinator with Exit International, has again exposed the hypocrisy at the heart of Australia’s justice system. Arch-Rowe has been charged with attempting to assist suicide, trafficking, and possessing a euthanasia drug after allegedly arranging the supply of the lethal substance to someone she met at a euthanasia workshop.[i]
Despite the seriousness of these charges, she was granted bail, with conditions that ban her from associating with Exit International, possessing the drug, or continuing her activities. This decision downplays the gravity of aiding a suicide and sends a dangerous signal: the state is willing to show leniency to those who facilitate death, while punishing those who speak up for life.
A Tale of Two Standards
- Arch-Rowe: Accused of supplying the means for a person to end their life – granted bail.
- Pro-Life Advocates: Peacefully expressing opposition to abortion – fined, criminalised, even jailed.
Take Graham Preston, a father of seven, who has been imprisoned multiple times for refusing to pay fines stemming from peaceful, non-violent pro-life protests.[ii] His “crime” was standing outside abortion facilities in silent witness for the unborn.
Or Kathleen Clubb, who in 2016 became the first person in Australia convicted under Victoria’s 150-metre “buffer zone” laws for offering information about abortion alternatives. Her conviction was upheld by the High Court, cementing the silencing of pro-life advocacy.[iii]
Therefore, we have the absurdity: ending life is met with compassion, but defending life is met with prosecution.
The Dangerous Message
Granting bail to Arch-Rowe is not just a legal formality – it is a cultural statement. It tells the public that facilitating death is less objectionable than defending the unborn or elderly.
Meanwhile, ordinary Australians who dare to speak for life face harsh legal consequences. This imbalance erodes the principle of equal justice and reveals the government’s bias: tolerance for those who aid in ending lives, intolerance for those who protect them.
Conclusion
The Arch-Rowe case highlights a chilling reality: Australia’s legal system punishes those who defend life while showing leniency to those who promote death. Until the government reverses this double standard, our most vulnerable, whether unborn, elderly, or suffering – will remain unprotected
Endnotes
[i] ABC News. (2025, September 16). Elaine Arch-Rowe, euthanasia drug accused, granted bail. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-16/elaine-arch-rowe-euthanasia-drug-accused-granted-bail/105777878
[ii] LifeSiteNews. (2014, August 14). Australian father of seven to spend 8 months in jail for protecting unborn. https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/australian-father-of-seven-to-spend-8-months-in-jail-for-protecting-unborn/
[iii] Catholic Voice. (2019, April 17). Australian pro-lifers lose challenge to abortion clinic buffer zones. https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/australian-pro-lifers-lose-challenge-to-abortion-clinic-buffer-zones/