Western Australia a step closer to legalising voluntary euthanasia

Western Australia is closer to legalising voluntary euthanasia for terminally-ill adults as the controversial legislation jumped its first hurdle.

Proposed voluntary assisted-dying laws easily passed Western Australia’s lower house on Tuesday night, with the first vote on the legislation coming in at 44 votes in favour to 12 against.

Under the proposal, terminally-ill adults living in WA who are in pain and likely have less than six months to live — or one year if they have a neurodegenerative condition — could take a drug to end their lives or ask a doctor to do it.

The discussion has so far been emotional but respectful.

“Everyone’s been pretty keen to get their views on the record,” Health minister Roger Cook said. “It’s clear that there’s a majority support in the legislative assembly. We have to see what happens in the legislative council.”

One Nation has already flagged it wants more funding for palliative care. Some MPs in the lower house have also raised concerns about palliative care funding.

“For some, there will never be enough expenditure on palliative care, but in the meantime, the government is investing record amounts,” Mr Cook said.

A rally was held at parliament house on Tuesday evening in support of the legislation.

Advocate Belinda Teh, who recently completed a 3500km walk across the country in honour of her late mother, said there was overwhelming support in the community for voluntary assisted-dying.

“We cannot be a silent majority. We have to be brave enough to speak up,” she said.

Ms Teh was joined by former emergency doctor Colin Clarke, who was diagnosed two years ago with mesothelioma, and Deborah Allcott, whose mother June died from progressive supranuclear palsy.

Pro-life demonstrators outside Victoria’s Parliament House on Tuesday night. Picture: AAP/James Ross

Voluntary euthanasia began in Victoria in June. The state’s voluntary assisted dying scheme is expected to be used by about 150 people annually.

While the laws are now in action, even if someone starts the process today it will take at least 10 days to be completed.

The laws took effect 18 months after the Victorian parliament narrowly passed the laws during marathon sittings in 2017.

Since then a taskforce was in charge of establishing how the system would work.

An independent review board and the coroner will keep track and monitor all deaths under the scheme.