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...
On Wednesday 23 October 2019 the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill passed one of its biggest hurdles after the Upper House voted 25 to 10 in favour of the Bill at the Second Reading. There were hugs and tears in the public gallery as supporters realised that the support...
A recent report by Dignity in Dying in the UK details the suffering endured by many despite excellent hospice care. The Inescapable Truth, shines a light on the experiences of a small but significant number of dying people. The research found that even if everyone in...
In 2018 opponents of voluntary assisted dying released a documentary made by Canadian filmmaker Kevin Dunn called Fatal Flaws. While it purports to be an independent, factual documentary about the dangers of voluntary assisted dying and voluntary euthanasia, according to Go Gentle Australia, and other supporters...
On Tuesday 24 September 2019 the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill easily passed Western Australia's lower house without amendments. The Bill will now head to the upper house of parliament where it is expected to face a much tougher passage. The bill passed 45 - 11 in...
On 5 September 2019 Australia's peak palliative care body, Palliative Care Australia updated its position on voluntary assisted dying. They are no longer opposed to VAD and have adopted a neutral position. Palliative Care Australia (PCA) Board Chair Dr Jane Fischer says the organisation has updated its position...