CAIRNS city library will not host a meeting by a controversial spokesman for voluntary euthanasia due to fears about security at the event.

Dr Philip Nitschke has labelled the library’s "last minute decision" not to host his workshop on Monday as "farcical and implausible".

Dr Nitschke said his Melbourne office was only told yesterday about the cancellation, even though the Exit International event was booked in March.

His office was told that "too many people may wish to attend" and "security would need to be involved, as they were at the last gathering".

But Dr Nitschke denied security was needed at a previous meeting in Cairns due to numbers. He said it was due to a power failure.

"We booked this venue in March and we are three days out from our workshop and there’s no time to find another place to hold it," he said.

"We haven’t had any trouble in Townsville and we’ve been to the Cairns library before and we haven’t had any problems in May 2005, when 50 people turned up.

"This mirrors what happened in Mackay when their neighbourhood centre made a last minute cancellation due to the philosophical views of the booking agent.

"The University of Central Queensland stepped in and offered their lecture theatre citing their belief in free speech and a need for open discussion."

Cairns library manager Kerrie Still said the booking had not been confirmed but an inquiry had been made by Exit International’s Lindy Boyd in March.

"The booking form was referred to me as the meeting purpose stated on the form was for a "public meeting" and in response to a standard question on the form answered "yes, would possibly attract media attention’," she said.

"The terms and conditions of use clearly state that library facilities are not available for public meetings that could exceed maximum venue capacity."

Ms Still said she called Dr Nitschke’s office and suggested that a larger facility would better suit their needs.

"There was no last minute response or any delay on the part of the library," Ms Still said.

Earlier this month, the assisted suicide expert was allowed into the United Kingdom after being released by British authorities at Heathrow airport. He was questioned upon arriving in London for a series of public meetings on voluntary euthanasia before being granted permission to enter.

Queensland Right to Life Cairns branch president Dr Tim Coyle said he was delighted to hear Mr Nitschke’s workshop had encountered some
problems.

"The usual thing in those workshops is that they give a detailed instruction on how to commit suicide and these kind of workshops are a bad influence," Dr Coyle said.

If an alternative venue can not be found before Monday, Dr Nitschke said he would hold the workshop "in the street outside the library".

Share this article