The British Medical Association’s first ever survey of its members’ views on assisted dying has found that doctors are in support of assisted dying and want the BMA to drop its official policy of opposition to a change in the law. Nearly 29,000 members of...
Report from COTA (Council on the Ageing) NSW reveals lack of comprehensive planning for last stage of life A new report released by COTA NSW has revealed that many older people find there is still a taboo around discussing the last stage of life, and struggle...
Just over one year since its implementation, voluntary assisted dying laws are giving Victorians suffering with a terminal illness greater choice over the timing and manner of their death. Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos welcomed the third report of the independent Voluntary Assisted Dying Review...
On Thursday 27 August the End of Life Choices (Voluntary Assisted Dying) Bill 2020 was tabled in the Tasmanian Parliament by Mersey MLC Mike Gaffney. Two days earlier Mr Gaffney had tabled 109 submissions on the proposed legislation most expressing support for his assisted dying legislation. The...
One Nation’s Mark Latham and Reverend Fred Nile have introduced a bill into NSW Parliament to amend the NSW Anti-Discrimination laws to include protections for religious beliefs. In principle, it is appropriate to provide people of faith with protection from discrimination. However, this Bill goes beyond simply...
Our Winter 2020 Newsletter aims to bring everyone up-to-date with the latest developments from across Australia and around the world. We report on the impact of COVID-19 on DWD's community advocacy training and reveal how the current overseas travel restrictions have thrown doubt over the end...
On 19 June 2019, Victoria’s historic voluntary assisted dying laws commenced. Despite our opponents predicting a tsunami of death, the VAD Review Board’s report on the first 6 months of operation showed that the regime is working safely and effectively. On the first anniversary of these...
A long-running parliamentary inquiry into end of life related issues has recommended that a scheme to allow voluntary assisted dying is legislated in Queensland. The recommendation is included in a report that was tabled on Tuesday 31 March 2020 by the parliament’s Health Committee. Committee chair, Mr Aaron Harper MP,...
On Wednesday 19 February the Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board released a report covering the first six months of the operation of the Victoria’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Act. In the six months from 19 June to 31 December 2019, 136 people commenced the assessment process for VAD through...
Tasmanian Legislative Council independent, Mike Gaffney, has released a draft consultation voluntary assisted dying bill with the intention of introducing the legislation for debate in August. The End-of-LIfe Choices (Voluntary Assisted Dying) Bill 2020 aims to provide a voluntary assisted dying process for people deemed eligible...
Our Summer 2019 Newsletter aims to bring everyone up-to-date with the latest developments from across Australia and around the world. We held back publication of this newsletter so we could include the exciting news from Western Australia. On Tuesday 10 December the WA Parliament passed their...
On Tuesday 10 December 2019 the Western Australian Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2019 cleared its final parliamentary hurdle making Western Australian the second state after Victoria to legalise voluntary assisted dying for the terminally ill. It took five hours for the Legislative Assembly to work its way...