After Two Days Of Debating & Years Of Fighting, Voluntary Assisted Dying Will Be Legal In QLD

Voluntary assisted dying has now been legalised in Queensland, making it the fifth state in Australia to do so.

The historic bill was passed on Thursday after more than two days of debating from MPs. But overall, it’s taken nearly three decades of lobbying to finally pass the VAD bill with 61 in support and 30 against, the ABC reports.

All but three Labor MPs voted in support of the bill, while ten LNP members, independent Sandy Bolton and both Greens MPs also showed their support for the bill.

One Nation’s Stephen Andrews and all three of Katter’s Australian Party voted against the bill.

It’s been a long time coming but Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that the state might not have been ready ten years ago.

“I do not think that 10 years ago Queensland was ready for these laws,” she said.

The criteria for voluntary assisted dying requires the person to be at least 18 years old, “diagnosed with a disease, illness or medical condition that is advanced, progressive, causing intolerable suffering and expected to result in the person’s death within 12 months,” according to the ABC.

That person will then make a request to a medical practitioner, who can then accept or refuse.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said that this new law will help ease the pain and suffering of terminally ill Queenslanders.

“It has been a very considered debate and, as many members on both sides of the house have said, it’s been a very difficult debate,” he told parliament on Thursday.

“But I think our goal in everything is to make sure we get this right.”

Miles also added that the laws wouldn’t interfere with the state’s palliative care, and that VAD would only give terminally ill people more options.

“Members do not have to choose between palliative care and voluntary assisted dying, they are not competitive,” he told parliament.

“They, in fact, can and do operate, side by side and by continuing to harp on as though it is a choice you’re attempting to demand members make a false choice. And it is indeed a false argument.”

The new Queensland voluntary assisted dying laws will take effect in January 2023, it’s currently legal in Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.

The post After Two Days Of Debating & Years Of Fighting, Voluntary Assisted Dying Will Be Legal In QLD appeared first on Pedestrian TV.