Euthanasia law delayed as Tasmanian Premier calls inquiry

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has ordered an expert inquiry to report on euthanasia legislation before a final vote.

Tasmania’s euthanasia push has been set back by the intervention of Premier Peter Gutwein, who has ordered an expert inquiry to report on the legislation before a final vote.

The move by Mr Gutwein, foreshadowed in Tuesday’s The Australian, will delay a final vote on the end-of-life-choices bill until February or March next year, ending supporters’ hopes it might pass this year.

Backers of the legislation, which passed the state’s upper house on Tuesday but is yet to be debated in the lower house, attacked the delay as causing “unnecessary hurt and confusion”.

Opponents of the private member’s bill, ultimately expected to pass both houses in some form, hailed it as show of “leadership” by Mr Gutwein, who has granted Liberal MPs a conscience vote.

The Premier cited inquiries in other jurisdictions, such as Victoria and Western Australia, in justifying his insistence on the probe, to be conducted by university experts.

“Should this legislation become law, it is incumbent on all of us to ensure that it is the best law possible and affords real protections for the most vulnerable in our community,” Mr Gutwein told parliament.

“Just as other jurisdictions have utilised independent processes to ensure such legislation is the most robust it can be, I have requested the University of Tasmania to establish an independent review panel to … provide their view regarding how this legislation compares to similar laws in other states and around the world.

“I have also requested UTAS to provide a view from the review panel in terms of end of life considerations, such as palliative care and advanced care directives … and what other steps could be considered prior to this legislation taking effect.”

As revealed by The Australian, an inquiry is backed by independent balance of power MP Madeleine Ogilvie, a Catholic who wants detailed consideration of concerns about the bill’s impact on the operation of faith-based hospitals and aged-care homes.

Catholic Care Australia and the Australian Christian Lobby had also called for an inquiry.

Mr Gutwein said he expected stakeholders would make submissions, but ACL Tasmanian director Christopher Brohier called for public submissions to also be considered.

“This is the careful and independent scrutiny that this flawed bill should have been given in the upper house,” Mr Brohier said.

Labor MPs, who all gave upfront, in-principle support to the bill to avoid a damaging party split over whether a conscience vote should be allowed, ­condemned the Premier’s ­intervention.