Terminally ill in NSW will have to wait until 2022 for euthanasia

A bill to legalise voluntary assisted dying will not be finalised until next year.

A bill to legalise voluntary assisted dying will not be finalised until next year.

The Upper House will hold an inquiry into the legislation if it passes the lower house.

Independent MP Alex Greenwich is still hopeful it will pass the lower house by the end of the year.

“It is likely that inquiry will be conducted over the end of year break and will need to report back by the first sitting day of next year,” he said.

Alex Greenwich is pushing the government to announce a clear timeline for the debate on voluntary assisted dying. Picture: Dominic Lorrimer

He said the inquiry would prolong the debate into the historic legislation and expressed sympathy with terminally ill Australians relying on the move to end their suffering.

“I know supporters of the reform will be disappointed that this will delay reform into next year,” he said.

Mr Greenwich called on the government to announce a clear timeline for debate on voluntary assisted dying in the Legislative Assembly.

“The responsible thing for the government to do now, to do today, is to give us a clear timeline in the Legislative Assembly to have this debate in this year in this parliament” he said.

Greg Piper said the government needs to show more leadership. Picture: AAP

Mr Greenwich said he is confident the push for dying with dignity will not be stalled by the bureaucratic hiccup.

Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper suspected the government of playing politics and acting disingenuously.

”It was within their ability to trigger this inquiry well before this,” he said.

”I suspect there are people, members of parliaments, that would prefer this isn’t debated right now. It’s certainly very disappointing.”