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Qld Parliament live blog: Voluntary Assisted Dying bill introduced to parliament
Who voluntary assisted dying will be offered to and how the laws will work has been revealed as the historic reforms were officially introduced in Queensland Parliament today.
Anyone found to have coerced a person to either make or revoke a request to access voluntary assisted dying will face up to seven years behind bars under historic reforms introduced in Queensland today.
And if an unauthorised person administers the substance, they face a maximum of 14 years in jail.
VAD laws were officially introduced in Queensland Parliament today, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk saying the matter had not been rushed but considered extensively.
But there is uncertainty around how the scheme will be available to people in regional, rural and remote areas because of the Commonwealth’s Criminal Code.
Currently under the Code, it is illegal to use a phone, videoconference, email or other electronic communication to publish or distribute material that counsels or incites committing or attempting to commit suicide.
SEE HOW QUESTION TIME UNFOLDED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE
Ms Palaszczuk said she had written to the Prime Minister requesting the Federal Government to urgently amend the Code.
“Given Queensland’s geography, it will be difficult for any voluntary assisted dying scheme to ensure equity of access for people in rural and remote areas while the Commonwealth Criminal Code provisions remain in place,” she said.
Under the proposed laws, VAD will only be offered to adults in Queensland who are expected to die within 12 months from a condition they consider intolerable.
And it will not be available to someone only because they have a disability or mental illness.
A person must be able to make their own decision at the time the substance is administered.
Losing someone you love is always painful - more so if they suffer.
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) May 24, 2021
I’ve experienced it with my own family. It’s a deeply personal issue.
Today, I will introduce the voluntary assisted dying bill into Parliament.
Queenslanders have spoken - the time is right.
They must have been diagnosed with a disease, illness or medical condition that is advanced, progressive and will cause death.
The Premier said the 12 month timeframe made it clear that the scheme was only an option for people who are at the end of their life.
As part of the proposed laws, there will be a residency requirement ensuring Queenslanders are given preference.
A person’s decision-making capacity will be assessed multiple times and they must also be assessed as having acted voluntarily and without coercion.
They will need to complete a staged request and assessment process which will be undertaken by two qualified doctors.
If one of those doctors is unsure about whether the person has decision-making capacity or whether they are acting voluntarily, they must refer them to another practitioner.
A person will be required to make three separate requests and can change their mind at any time.
The substance will be able to be administered by the person themselves or by a practitioner.
Nurse practitioners and registered nurses will be allowed to administer it – allowing for greater access to the scheme for those living in rural and remote areas.
Health workers will not be allowed to initiate a discussion about euthanasia to a person – unless at the same time they inform them about the treatment options available including palliative care and the likely outcomes.
The prohibition will apply to anyone who provides health services or professional care services to a person.
No health practitioner will be forced to participate if they don’t agree with the process but the Bill sets out that that person will need to inform the person of their refusal, the reason for it and information around how they can access it.
An entity won’t be obliged to provide the scheme.
The Premier said in the past year, she had lost both her grandmother and her uncle.
“This has caused me to reflect long and hard on a lot of things, and I honestly feel that the time is right for this Bill,” she said.
“It is a Bill about empowerment.
"It’s about giving people choice.
“It’s about giving people autonomy to make their own decisions about their end of life.
“Most importantly, it’s about compassion in the face of suffering.
“And it’s about Queenslanders supporting individuals to make these choices for themselves.”
If passed, the scheme will begin in January 2023.
Earlier, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queenslanders had spoken and the time was right to consider the historic reforms.
It comes as more questions are asked - and not clearly answered - about the state government's proposed COVID-19 quarantine facility at Wellcamp.
The Palaszczuk Government refused to give any details, including how COVID patients would be taken to hospital.
Ahead of Question Time, about two-dozen protesters gathered outside Parliament this morning to object the Bill, with leader of Katter’s Australian Party, Robbie Katter, and MP Shane Knuth addressing the crowd.
“The problem is are people educated on what the impacts of this are. Because as a five-second proposition - do you think people should have the rights and freedoms to take their own life? yeah, okay - but do you realise what the implications of this are down the road if this is not regulated properly?,” Mr Katter said.
Mr Katter also questioned the legitimacy of the conscience vote which Ms Palaszczuk will grant her MPs.
“The government is not going to put something in the parliament they know they’re not going to get through and I think the idea that it’s a conscious vote is just silly from the government because yes there are few people on the outskirts but they’re not to be putting something through this parliament unless they can manage the outcome,” he said.
Some of the protesters held placards which slammed VAD as “legalising assisted suicide”. Ms Palaszczuk Tweeted that losing someone you love was always painful and more so if they suffered.
“I’ve experienced it with my own family,” she said.
“It’s a deeply personal issue.”
The Premier last week unveiled the Queensland Law Reform Commission’s report and draft legislation.
Both she and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli will grant their MPs a conscience vote.
However Mr Crisafulli at the weekend would not say if he personally supported euthanasia but pledged to have an open mind when approaching the matter.
More Coverage
Updates
Question Time has wrapped up
Code Yellows
Health Minister Yvette D'Ath has just clarified that as of 8.30am, there were no code yellows across the southeast's hospital and health services.
Minister slams police question
Police Minister Mark Ryan has slammed a question about the time police have spent helping ambulances take patients to hospital as “ridiculous”.
The question, asked by Opposition Police spokesman Dale Last, was in response to a Courier Mail story which revealed police were ferrying sick patients to hospital due to a lack of ambulances.
Mr Ryan said the question should be put on notice for him to investigate the data, but said it was not uncommon for emergency services to assist each other.
“The Queensland Police Service works alongside the Queensland Ambulance Service and fire and emergency service to keep the community safe,” he said
“From time-to-time each agency helps another agency.”
– Hayden Johnson
No new taxes for Queensland
Treasurer Cameron Dick has been asked to rule out any new or increased taxes or royalties in the upcoming State Budget.
Mr Dick referred to Labor's election commitment last year that there would be no new or increased taxes.
"We are a government that honours our election commitments," he said.
"They (Opposition) have a criminal disregard for election commitments."
– Domanii Cameron
Premier waiting her turn for jab
Opposition MP Rob Molhoek has asked the Premier why she did not get vaccinated as soon as possible to promote confidence in the vaccine.
Ms Palaszczuk insisted she was waiting her turn and that the jab only became available to over 50s last week.
She said she would get the jab when it was her "turn" and referred to how she received her flu shot on Monday.
– Jack McKay
"Highly likely" Katter's will oppose VAD
Traeger MP Robbie Katter says he opposes euthanasia and that it's "highly likely" both he and his two colleagues will vote against the reforms.
"While myself, and my Katter’s Australian Party colleagues plan to review the Queensland Law Reform Commission’s report into the subject as well as the legislation that will be introduced today, it is highly likely we will be voting against it based on principle," Mr Katter said.
"I am of the belief that creating and preserving life is, and should remain, the most primary endeavour of our society and our governments should reflect this.
"It was a dark day in Parliament for all three state KAP MPs when Labor’s limitless abortion laws passed in 2018, and those celebrating in the House caused us even more concern.
"While I understand there is great complexity and emotion around issues of life and death, we do not believe the legalisation of suicide (even with the strictest of conditions) is the answer.
"The need for a better focus on and improved funding for palliative care services for all Queenslanders through a purpose-built palliative care system has been overlooked as part of the debate around end-of-life."
– Domanii Cameron
Calls for Grace Grace to apologise
Calls for the Education Minister to apologise for disregarding the health issues plaguing a 12-year old Sunshine Coast girl have been ruled out of order.
Buderim MP Brent Mickelberg asked Grace Grace would apologise for dismissing the “legitimate concerns” of his constituent Abby, who has waited six months for knee surgery.
Leader of the House Yvette D’Ath said as the question did not relate to Ms Grace’s ministerial responsibilities, it should be ruled out of order.
Manager of Opposition Business Jarrod Bleijie said Ms Grace’s commentary and statements has “connected herself to this story”.
The Speaker ruled the question out of order.
– Hayden Johnson
Surgeries postponed
Three elective surgeries due to take place today at the PA Hospital have been rescheduled.
Reporting back on an earlier question, Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said 58 elective surgeries were taking place today at the Brisbane hospital.
She said as of 8.30am, there were no code yellows across Queensland's hospital and health services today.
– Domanii Cameron
Point of order to and fro
Opposition MP Christian Rowan has asked a question about a specific media report relating to Queensland Health and a specific case.
Education Minister Grace Grace tried to block the question being asked because the question referred to specific individuals.
Speaker Curtis Pitt ruled that Dr Rowan would have to authenticate his question with evidence.
Dr Rowan sought to authenticate the question with a media report which he tabled to parliament.
Ms Grace then raised another point of order, arguing that a media report does not count as authenticating the information.
Mr Pitt dismissed Ms Grace's point of order and let the question proceed.
– Jack McKay
Elective surgeries at PA Hospital
Health Minister Yvette D'Ath will check whether elective surgeries have been cancelled at Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital today.
It follows a question from Ninderry MP Dan Purdie who asked whether the surgeries had been cancelled because of a shortage of beds.
"I'm happy to check on the current status of the PA Hospital today but once again what we see from the Opposition is the typical scaremongering … " Ms D'Ath said.
LNP frontbencher Tim Mander chimed in saying, "The Minister doesn't even know."
Ms D'Ath said she would check the "facts of the situation".
– Domanii Cameron
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