2016/19 : should Victoria legalise euthanasia?





Introduction to the media issue

Video clip at right:
On December 7, 2016, the Victorian Government issued a videoed statement from the Premier, Daniel Andrews, in which he explained that his government would introduce a bill to legalise assisted dying in this state in 2017. If you cannot see this clip, it will be because video is blocked by your network. To view the clip, access from home or from a public library, or from another network which allows viewing of video clips.


What they said...
'Prohibition of assisted dying is causing some people great pain and suffering'
A statement from the Victorian Parliament's Legal and Social Issues Committee's report titled 'Inquiry into end of life choices'

'In debates about euthanasia and assisted suicide, it is rare to find...an expression of neutral interest...[that]then proceeds to examine the various arguments and data before drawing conclusions'
Brian L. Mishara, Centre for Research and Intervention on Suicide and Euthanasia, University of Qubec, Montreal, Canada and David Weisstub, Legal Psychiatry and Biomedical Ethics, University of Qubec, Montreal, Canada

The issue at a glance
On December 8, 2016, the offices of the Victorian Premier, the Attorney-General and the Minister for Health issued a joint media release titled 'Victorian Parliament to Vote on Assisted Dying Legislation'
The media release states, 'The Andrews Labor Government will introduce legislation into the Parliament next year [2017] to legalise voluntary assisted dying for terminally ill people in Victoria.'
The announcement comes six months after the release of the Victorian Parliament's Legal and Social Issues Committee's report titled 'Inquiry into end of life choices'.
The Committee's report made 49 recommendations including extensive reforms to the provision of palliative care, advance care planning and end-of-life laws in Victoria.
The most controversial of its recommendations is that which would have the Victorian Parliament introduce a Bill seeking to allow assisted dying in this state.
The Government has decided to introduce such a Bill in the second half of 2017. If it is passed, it is not intended that its provisions would come into operation till 2019.
Both the Labor Government and the Opposition will allow a conscience vote on the issue.
The proposed legislation is certain to provoke widespread community debate.