Progress on path to end of life Bill

Gaffney praises thorough consultation on fourth attempt

A BILL aimed at enabling voluntary assisted dying in Tasmania has been tabled in parliament.

The End of Life Choices Bill was moved in the Legislative Council on Thursday morning by Mersey MLC Mike Gaffney.

It was also moved that the second reading of the Bill be introduced in the Legislative Council on September 15.

It follows the largest e-petition in Tasmania’s history being presented to the House of Assembly last week, featuring 11,699 signatures in favour of voluntary assisted dying alongside 1383 signatures on paper, for a total of 13,082.

The petition was tabled by Greens leader Cassy O’Connor.

It is the fourth attempt at voluntary assisted dying legislation in Tasmania.

Previous attempts at similar laws in 2009, 2013 and 2016 failed to pass through the House of Assembly.

Mr Gaffney said the Bill was showing good progress.

“I am pleased that the Bill has now been tabled in the Legislative Council. It has been a huge, robust and thorough consultation process and it has been well received from a number of my national and international colleagues.”

Mr Gaffney has done several rounds of consultation on the Bill, including a series of forums held around the state to explain the legislation to communities.

Opposition to the Bill has been voiced by religious groups and church leaders, including Anglican Dean of Hobart, the Very Reverend Richard Humphrey, who said the Bill was based on the “untestable assumption that it is better to be dead than alive with pain”.

Dying With Dignity Tasmania’s Hilde Nilsson urged greater compassion for Tasmanians with “intolerable and unrelievable suffering”.

“I know from many years’ experience as a nurse that not all end of life suffering can be relieved and not everyone can be helped to have a good death, despite the best skills and intentions of our doctors and nurses,” Ms Nilsson said.

“I urge opponents to look at the evidence and to listen to the people who are sharing their own heartbreaking stories and of their loved ones.”