Right-to-die reform is ‘long overdue’, Tasmanian Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor says as debate on Voluntary Assisting Dying Bill begins

FORMER Premier Lara Giddings says there is a growing people’s movement in favour of legal euthanasia, as a conscience debate begins in State Parliament.

FORMER Premier Lara Giddings says there is a growing people’s movement in favour of legal euthanasia, as a conscience debate begins in State Parliament.

Lower House MPs have started debate on a new Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill, with a vote tonight expected to go down to the wire.

The Bill has been co-sponsored by Labor MHA Ms Giddings and Greens leader Cassy O’Connor.

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Opening the debate today, Ms Giddings said it was the third time a euthanasia Bill had come before Tasmania’s Lower House since 2009.

“While people are given no option other than to live with pain and suffering every day of their lives or take their own lives in often horrible and tragic circumstances, this issue will not go away,” she said.

“We are elected to make decisions on the floor of this parliament and it’s time we made them on this issue.”

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Labor MHA Lara Giddings, left, talking to reporters about the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill with Greens leader Cassy O’Connor MP on Parliament House lawns earlier this week. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

Ms Giddings said several international jurisdictions including Canada and a number of US states now had voluntary assisted dying frameworks.

“There is a people’s movement growing around the world and politicians are responding,” she said.

Ms O’Connor said the Bill protected doctors, medical professionals and patients and was about compassion for people suffering at the end of their lives.

“This is a reform that is long overdue in this country and in this state,” she said.

The vote on Tasmania’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill looks set to go down to the wire..

The Bill being debated today is a modified version of the 2013 Bill, featuring changes recommended by the Law Society.

Under the Bill, a person must be at “the advanced stages of a serious, incurable and irreversible medical condition, whether caused by illness, disease or injury” to qualify for consideration for voluntary assisted dying.

The person must be in persistent and intolerable suffering, they must have no reasonable medical treatment options and no reasonable prospect of permanent improvement.

Other Australian states are contemplating similar schemes, including New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.

Supporters of the legislation are rallying on the lawns in front of Parliament House.

Debate is due to continue until 10pm today.