Labor is facing pressure to remove federal restrictions preventing Australians from accessing voluntary assisted dying (VAD) services through telehealth, after the party’s national conference adopted a policy supporting reform.
The updated Labor platform commits the party to removing federal barriers to lawful end-of-life care, including telehealth access, while maintaining appropriate clinical safeguards. It also guarantees Labor MPs a conscience vote, meaning they would not be required to follow the government’s position on any legislation.
Despite the policy change, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has indicated the government may not introduce legislation. Although he supports voluntary assisted dying, Albanese said he was concerned that telehealth consultations could weaken safeguards and expose the system to misuse. He argued that a decision as serious as ending a person’s life should involve face-to-face medical engagement.
Albanese also stressed that Labor’s national platform sets the party’s general policy direction but does not automatically determine the government’s legislative agenda. Cabinet would decide whether to draft legislation after consulting Labor MPs.
Independent Curtin MP Kate Chaney plans to reintroduce her private member’s bill in the House of Representatives, giving Labor an early opportunity to implement its new policy. The Greens, through senator Sarah Hanson-Young, are also expected to introduce legislation, increasing political pressure on the government to act.
Chaney has focused particularly on the impact of the existing restrictions on people living in regional and remote Australia. She said her bill would give Labor “the earliest opportunity to bring this cruel anomaly to an end and give country people the same access as Australians in the big cities”.
“This overdue change in Labor policy on voluntary assisted dying should mean an end to the needless suffering of people in the final stages of life, particularly for those in regional areas who are currently forced to travel, sometimes repeatedly, just to access lawful medical care,” she said.
The federal criminal code prohibits the use of telecommunications services to incite or encourage suicide. As a result, doctors may risk prosecution or fines of up to $300,000 if they use video calls, email or other telecommunications for certain stages of the VAD process.
Doctors and VAD advocates argue that the law creates unnecessary delays and disproportionately affects patients who are too ill to travel or live far from trained medical professionals. These difficulties can be especially serious for patients whose health is rapidly deteriorating and who wish to die at home.
VAD access generally requires patients to make several requests and undergo multiple medical assessments. Because doctors fear breaching federal law, these appointments are often conducted in person, even where state or territory laws permit assisted dying.
Go Gentle founding director Andrew Denton said medical bodies, including the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, support telehealth as a safe addition to VAD services in appropriate circumstances. He argued that telehealth is already used in palliative care for serious end-of-life discussions.
Chaney’s legislation will test whether Labor is prepared to translate its updated platform into law. Supporters argue that reform would not remove safeguards, but would ensure equal access to lawful end-of-life healthcare regardless of a patient’s location or mobility.