First step for NSW last in line on euthanasia

Voluntary assisted dying is a step closer to becoming law in NSW after the legislation passed its first test in the upper house.

NSW Labor MP Adam Searle. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Voluntary assisted dying is a step closer to becoming law in NSW after the legislation passed its first test in the upper house, paving the way for the last state in the country to legalise euthanasia.

The Legislative Council voted to support the second reading of the bill by 20 to 17, following an hour of passionate debate on Wednesday night.

Supporters were optimistic that majority support would see the “compassionate and long overdue reform” become law, but remained concerned about opponents of the bill proposing “hostile amendments” to slow its passage.

The bill will likely go to committee stage next Wednesday if amendments are added for further debate.

If enshrined into law the bill will bring NSW into line with other states in legalising voluntary assisted dying for people with incurable medical conditions who have less than six months to live or 12 months for a neurodegenerative disease.

Bill co-sponsor and Labor MP Adam Searle addressed criticism of the bill that it would lead vulnerable and elderly people to choose to die or that it would go against a doctor’s oath to do no harm. “Harm has been done now by forcing those with terminal illnesses or conditions to suffer physical pain to lose control over personal bodily autonomy, of suffering until their physical being gives out,” he said.

“That is harmful. That is unnecessary. It’s not compassion. It forces people into unsafe and unregulated behaviour to bring about an early end of life. Let us bring it out of the dark into a safe and regulated framework with transparency and accountability.”

Animal Justice Party MP Mark Pearson backed the reform, questioning why critics of the bill gave soldiers the right to end their lives in an act of heroism but not the terminally ill. “Why then is it sinful to exercise the final act of compassion for ourselves?” he said.

Labor MP Tara Moriarty said she would be voting against the bill because she didn’t want the very sick to be coerced.

“I remain concerned for people who may feel like they’re a burden, like having to be cared for at the worst point is a burden for the people around them,” she said.

At least 23 of 42 MPs eligible to vote in the Legislative Council have spoken in support of assisted dying reform. Bill co-sponsor and independent MP Alex Greenwich urged opponents in the upper house not to “not to unnecessarily waste time”.

“I would caution colleagues in the upper house who are intending to put forward hostile amendments, who are seeking to delay through these amendments that they are playing with people’s lives and playing with people’s deaths,” he said. “We’ve heard compelling stories throughout the legislative journey of the voluntary assisted dying bill as to why this is so important.”

Mr Greenwich added that the bill would be “one of the most conservative models in the country” if passed into law.

The reform includes an 18-month “implementation phase” from the date of assent to allow NSW Health time to administer the scheme and train doctors.