Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill passes Legislative Council

Legislation to allow Tasmanians suffering from a terminal illness to choose to end their life has passed a significant hurdle today after it was put to a final vote. LATEST >>

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UPDATE, 12.30PM:

LEGISLATION to allow Tasmanians suffering from a terminal illness to choose to end their life has passed the Legislative Council.

The End of Life Choices (Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill) was put to a final vote a short time ago.

An emotional Mike Gaffney, who introduced the Bill, thanked his colleagues in the Legislative Council for progressing the historic changes.

“This legislation is simply aimed at helping individuals suffering intolerably to find peace in a manner of their choosing surrounded by their family and friends,” Mr Gaffney said.

MLC Michael Gaffney after the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill was passed by the Legislative council. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The Bill will now be considered by the House of Assembly which will be allowed a conscience vote.

However the Premier announced today that the Bill would not make it to a vote until next year.

EARLIER:

THE House of Assembly will not vote on Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation until next year, parliament has heard.

The Legislative Council is today expected to pass a private members bill from Mersey MLC Mike Gaffney.

If the Upper House does give the green light, it will be the furthest stage such laws have reached, after attempts in 2009, 2013 and 2017 were introduced in the Lower House and failed to pass.

In a statement to parliament this morning, Premier Peter Gutwein said he was committed to full consideration of the bill as soon as possible and would add another day of parliamentary sittings this year in order to do so.

But a final vote on the bill will not follow straight away, but instead would be the first order of business when parliament resumes in February or March, he said.

“It is our intention that the legislation be brought on for debate this year at the end of the Budget session and the House will proceed with the second reading debate on the 3rd of December,” he said.

Premier Peter Gutwein in state parliament. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“In order to provide an opportunity for all members to contribute and for them to express their intent on the legislation the second reading debate will occur before the parliament rises this year and the parliament will sit an additional day on Friday 4th December to enable that to occur.

“Should the Bill pass its second reading in the lower House, and to ensure sufficient time is provided through the Committee stage, and with the agreement of this House, the Bill will become the first order of business for this House when the parliament resumes in late February or early March next year.”

The government has asked the University of Tasmania to set up an independent review panel to consider the amended bill and to provide advice to parliament when it resumes in after the summer break.

Mr Gutwein said Liberal members would be given a conscience vote on the bill.

Labor leader Rebecca White said she believed the bill would pass, and said she was disappointed it would not be subject of a final vote before the end of this year.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said she was also disappointed.

“This is a necessary compassionate reform to our legal system,” she said.

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