NSW has become the last state in Australia to make voluntary assisted dying legal, allowing terminally ill people to end their lives under certain criteria.
The Upper House spent 10 hours debating amendments before the final vote, with the legislation passing in the Lower House.
Independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton has welcomed the legislation, co-sponsoring independent MP Alex Greenwich’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill.
“The law change is long overdue,” Mrs Dalton said.
“It provides a sensible and humane way to allow terminally ill patients to end their suffering with dignity, with plenty of safeguards in place.”
To be eligible to use the new laws, the person must be over 18 years old, likely to die from a disease within six months – or a year in the case of a neurodegenerative disease or condition – have the capacity to make the decision for themselves, and be acting voluntarily without pressure from anyone else.
While supporting the legislation, Mrs Dalton cautioned that a huge amount of funding would be needed to ensure the law was accessible for regional residents.
“One safeguard in place within the new law is that eligibility for euthanasia must be signed off by two doctors,” Mrs Dalton said.
“In small towns, it is hard enough to find one doctor, let alone two.”
Mrs Dalton has called for the NSW Government to address the rural GP shortage, and to increase funding for regional palliative care to ensure that rural people are not disadvantaged.
“Passing new laws doesn’t mean much in the bush if there’s no funding for people to exercise their rights under legislation.”
It will take up to 18 months for the laws to come into effect while a new system and oversight body is developed.
