Premier Lara Giddings has introduced a voluntary euthanasia bill to her state's parliament that would allow terminally ill Tasmanians to take their lives.
Ms Giddings and Greens leader Nick McKim tabled a joint private members bill on Thursday that is based on "the values of compassion, respect for human dignity, and freedom of choice".
The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2013 will establish a state registrar to oversee the process of people seeking voluntary euthanasia.
It also features penalties for anyone found to pressure patients.
"Who are we to say to an independent, competent adult that they must continue to live with pain and suffering, rather than allowing them to end their life at the time of their choosing?" Ms Giddings said in a statement.
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"It is a tragedy that our current laws still often force terminally ill people to suffer an agonising and often humiliating death."
She said safeguards used in overseas laws and 900 public submissions had been considered during the consultation process.
The bill will be debated during the next sitting of Tasmania's parliament in mid-October.
