Voluntary assisted dying may conclude today in Tasmania

A decision to approve laws that would give terminally ill people in intolerable suffering the right to end their life is expected to be made in parliament today. THE LATEST >>

• Right to die decision needs to clear final hurdle
• Marathon sitting on right to die legislation concludes

A DECISION on whether to approve laws that would give terminally ill people in intolerable suffering the legal right to end their life is expected to be made in state parliament today.

Members of the Legislative Council will meet from 9am to debate amendments to the final clauses in the voluntary assisted dying Bill.

A vote will then be held on whether MLCs decide to pass the amended legislation.

If it does pass, the Bill would still need to clear the House of Assembly in order to become enshrined in law.

Independent MLC, Michael Gaffney during the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill debate in the Legislative council. Picture: Zak Simmonds

It would be presented to the house next month and MPs would have a conscience vote.

MLCs went through a marathon sitting on Tuesday spanning 15 hours, adjourning just after midnight with two clauses — out of more than 140 in the Bill — still to debate.

If the Legislative Council 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.

The 2020 Bill differs from the others because it has been introduced in the Upper House as a private member’s Bill by Mersey MLC Mike Gaffney.

Among amendments made is the inclusion of a five-person commission for VAD, rather than a single commissioner.

Independent MLC, Michael Gaffney talks during the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill debate in the Legislative council. Picture: Zak Simmonds

A clause in the Bill that called for a review into other jurisdictions’ processes on VAD-like legislation for people under 18 was removed, following an emotion-charged debate.

Meanwhile, a bid to remove registered nurses from the list of health professionals able to be appointed to administer the VAD substance to patients under the legislation was lost.

If it reaches the House of Assembly, MPs would have the opportunity to further amend the Bill.

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