VAD law reform

In May the Queensland Parliament’s cross-party Health Committee visited Toowoomba as part of its inquiry into end-of-life issues including voluntary assisted dying (VAD).

Anyone following the inquiry knows that the vast majority of those giving evidence in person or by written submission want to see VAD law reform in Queensland, and they want to see it sooner not later, and certainly before the next state election just a year away.

In parliament this week the independent Member for Noosa, Sandy Bolton, asked Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk if her government would urgently consider any inquiry recommendations for voluntary assisted dying laws similar to the urgency they have placed on new laws giving police extra powers to cope with street protests.

In her response, the Premier did not commit to such a course of action and, unless she changes her mind, urgent and necessary VAD law reforms may languish in the “too hard” basket until after the next election.

There is also the risk it will be a political football in an election campaign when it must be treated by all 93 state MPs in a bipartisan, calm, and sensible manner.

The deadline for the inquiry to report recommendations to parliament has been extended from November to March 2020 but it is feasible to have an early report on VAD in November as originally planned with a report on palliative care and aged care following.

Coroners’ figures presented to the inquiry show that each month in the absence of VAD seven terminally ill Queenslanders take their own life in lonely, and often horrific circumstances.

Sadly, that is the real and very human cost of delay. David Muir, Chair The Clem Jones Trust