The Labor party’s decision to support telehealth consultations for people with terminal illnesses in regional and remote Australia seeking to access Voluntary Assisted Dying is as welcome as it is overdue.
It is now two years since independent Member for Curtin Kate Chaney introduced her Private Members Bill to allow just what the Labor party is now asking the Prime Minister to allow.
As soon as possible, Ms Chaney plans to reintroduce her legislation which will 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.
Current provisions in the Commonwealth Criminal Code put doctors at risk of criminal liability, simply for using the phone, internet, fax, email or video-conferencing to provide lawful VAD care.
This means that in regional WA, for example, seriously ill patients must attend every consultation in person, often more than once, to make and confirm their request, meaning some people have endured exhausting travel to access VAD, and elsewhere people have died without accessing it at all.
Quotes from Kate Chaney, independent Member for Curtin:
“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.
“I've been raising this issue in Parliament for two years – introducing a Bill to amend the Criminal Code in 2024, returning it to the Notice Paper this year, and tabling a 13,000-signature petition calling for this very change.
“I will be moving my Bill to fix this at the first opportunity when Parliament returns. This is a simple fix for the anomaly in the Criminal Code – clarifying that VAD is not suicide – the same Bill I originally introduced in 2024.
“Now that he’s received a clear signal from Labor’s rank and file, the Prime Minister should act without delay. I trust Members across the Parliament will be given a conscience vote to support this change.”
[ENDS]
Media enquiries: Cade Smith | 0408 997 003 | [email protected]
Attachment A
Substantive section of Criminal Code Amendment (Telecommunications Offences for Suicide Related Material—Exception for Lawful Voluntary Assisted Dying) Bill 2024:
474.29C Subdivision does not apply to lawful voluntary assisted dying
This Subdivision does not apply to acts or omissions lawfully carried out in good faith in accordance with a voluntary assisted dying law (however described) of a State or Territory.
Note: Each of the following is an example of an act:
(a) using a carriage service;
(b) using material;
(c) possessing, controlling, producing, supplying or obtaining material.