NSW falls in line on assisted dying law

The historic bill passed into law after a gruelling debate, making NSW the last state in the country to legalise euthanasia.

NSW Labor’s Adam Searle speaks during debate of amendments to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill. Picture: Dan Himbrechts

A historic bill legalising voluntary assisted dying has passed in NSW following months of heated ­debate and campaigning, ­although it will be another 18 months before the terminally ill can use the law to end their lives.

The bill passed both houses in emotional scenes on Thursday following a 12-hour debate on Wednesday, making NSW the last state in the country to allow euthanasia.

When debate resumed on Thursday, the Legislative Council supported a third reading of the bill by 23 to 15 votes. Shortly ­before 1pm, it was officially ­enshrined into law by the lower house in front of an audience who applauded the passing of the landmark bill.

The legislation, which was introduced into the NSW lower house by independent MP Alex Greenwich last October, was co-sponsored by 28 members from across the political spectrum.

While the bill was opposed by Liberal Premier Dominic Perrottet and Labor leader Chris Minns, politicians were allowed a conscience vote that resulted in the highest number of co-sponsors for any bill in an Australian ­parliament.

Mr Greenwich, who addressed the lower house before the bill was formally enshrined into law, thanked the co-sponsors and the advocates who fought “long and hard for this reform”.

“I would like to particularly ­acknowledge that we have brought together a coalition of people to support this reform … The entire diversity in this parliament was reflected in support for this bill,” he said.

Despite significant support among members of the Legislative Assembly, its opponents ­attempted to stymie the bill’s passage on Wednesday by introducing dozens of amendments which prolonged proceedings.

Following several addresses, Labor MP Greg Donnelly failed to persuade MPs that ­patients with significant mental impairments should be excluded from the bill if the legislation was to be regarded as truly voluntary.

The bill passed on Thursday with only minor amendments in the Legislative Council, ensuring additional oversight in palliative care and that reporting of voluntary assisted dying remains consistent with the approach of the Victorian government.

NSW Health will have 18 months to implement the scheme and train doctors in the onerous requirements of the law, meaning those eligible for voluntary assisted dying won’t be able to access it until the end of next year at the earliest.

Labor’s Adam Searle, who introduced the legislation to the upper house, said opponents of the bill had often been unfair to its supporters, suggesting they ­opposed the sanctity of life.

“There has been a suggestion that we don’t respect the sanctity of life, that somehow we think of life as a commodity,” he said.

“But I would invite members to reflect that myself and other people who support these ­measures do so because we ­respect life.”

Finance Minister Damien ­Tudehope, who spoke in the upper house on Thursday morning, described the bill’s passing as “a dark day for the state” which would be judged as a “dreadful mistake”.

Following the debate, Sydney’s Catholic Archbishop Anthony Fisher said it was “disturbing” that amendments to make the legislation safer were rejected.

“That no meaningful amendments were accepted speaks to a winner-takes-all ­approach … and reveals an ugliness that has invaded politics,” Archbishop Fisher added.

NSW Dying with Dignity president Penny Hackett, who was present in the lower house when the bill passed, said despite a range of amendments the bill was robust and conservative, ­allowing dying people in NSW the same rights as other ­Australians.

Ms Hackett added that it was a historic moment for supporters who had been campaigning for decades so that terminally ill ­people “don’t have to endure prolonged and unbearable suffering in their final days”.

In NSW, people with a fatal ­diagnosis will be allowed to access voluntary assisted dying at the end of an 18-month implementation period.