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Second kill attempt on Vic death bill

A second attempt to kill off debate on Victoria's controversial assisted dying bill "indefinitely" has been put to the lower house.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews
Victoria's controversial assisted-dying laws will face a final tick off from the lower house. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Opponents of Victoria's divisive voluntary assisted dying bill have made another attempt to stop it as it re-entered the lower house.

After more than 100 hours of debate, including overnight sittings in both houses, the bill is back in the Legislative Assembly for a vote on the amended plans.

But when the matter resumed late on Tuesday afternoon for what was expected to be a purely administrative exercise, opponent Robert Clark issued an amendment for debate to "be deferred indefinitely".

"I appeal to all members to shake off the spell of delusions" on the "ill-conceived bill", Mr Clark told the chamber.

It's the second attempt to defer debate indefinitely that the bill has faced

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The first was put up by deputy premier and euthanasia opponent James Merlino when the matter was in the Legislative Assembly previously and was unsuccessful.

Health Minister Jill Hennessy said she did not shy away from the fact the government had to concede amendments to get the bill through the Legislative Council and the time to vote on this bill "is now".

"The house of review has done it's job and the government's view is we have not accepted any amendments that compromise the integrity of the bill," she told parliament.

The modifications include the halving of the 12-month diagnosed life expectancy for people wanting to access the scheme.

Patients must also reside in Victoria for at least 12 months and the coroner must be notified of all deaths.

If the bill passes, a long implementation process will follow, with the scheme expected to be active by June 2019.

Premier Daniel Andrews, who was influenced by his father's death from cancer, and Health Minister Jill Hennessy have campaigned hard for the laws.

Victoria would become the only jurisdiction in the country to have such a legal framework supporting voluntary assisted dying.

Debate on the bill and Mr Clark's amendment will continue on Wednesday.


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