Euthanasia a step closer

TERMINALLY ill patients are a step closer to being allowed to apply for a lethal medication – thanks to a historic day in Victoria’s Parliament.

Laws allowing voluntary assisted dying have passed the Parliament’s Lower House after a marathon debate between exhausted MPs.

After an all-night session in parliament discussing 140 amendments, the Labor Government’s voluntary euthanasia bill passed yesterday morning.

It will next go to the Upper House.

The proposed laws state terminally ill people with less than 12 months to live and who are suffering unbearable pain will be able to request lethal medication.

The final count was 47 votes in favour of the legislation proceeding to the Upper House and 37 against.

It comes after tensions over the bill flared in Victoria’s Labor Government with an accidental text message.

Health Minister Jill Hennessy called Deputy Premier James Merlino a “c---” in a text message sent to him by mistake on Wednesday night, it has been confirmed by numerous parliamentary sources.

Mr Merlino, a fierce opponent of the government’s bid to legalise a strictly monitored euthanasia scheme, had proposed an amendment that would have killed off the bill – a flagship policy by Labor.

The amendment was narrowly defeated.

It is understood Mr Merlino is angry about the text message from his colleague.