Vic amends death bill to secure support

The Victorian government has amended its controversial assisted dying bill and announced a $62 million palliative care package in a bid to secure votes.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says he'll wait and see how the assisted dying bill progresses. (AAP)

Last-minute changes have been made to Victoria's proposed controversial voluntary assisted dying laws, along with a $62 million palliative care package in a bid to get the bill through parliament.

The Andrews Labor government on Tuesday slashed the required life expectancy for terminally ill patients to access the scheme from 12 months to six.

And in an effort to deter "death tourism" people must live in Victoria for at least 12 months before they can apply for the scheme.

"It has become apparent to us over the last couple of weeks that passage through the (Legislative) Council will be more difficult," Attorney-General Martin Pakula told reporters.

"These amendments give the bill the best chance of passing through."

Despite the new life expectancy guidelines, patients suffering neurodegenerative conditions with 12 months or less to live will be granted access to the scheme.

Other changes include that assisted dying must be recorded on the death certificate and the coroner must be notified.

Mr Pakula said the government believed the original bill never prohibited the coroner from investigating a VAD death, but the amendment was being introduced to make it "absolutely clear".

After outcry that the original scheme did not include extra palliative care funding, the government also announced a $62 million package on Tuesday.

The money will be spread over five years with $19 million allocated for 2017-18 and a particular focus on services for regional and rural Victoria.

There will also be a review of how palliative care funding is distributed.

The changes sparked outrage among opponents who demanded an adjournment so they could be briefed by bureaucrats but the move failed to attract enough votes.

Deputy leader of the government in the Legislative Council Jaala Pulford said MPs would get time to consider the amendments.

"We don't anticipate any of these amendments being put to a vote before Thursday, that will be the earliest," she told reporters.

"So there's ample opportunity for members to reflect on the proposed amendments and to consider their impact."

Opposition health spokeswoman Mary Wooldridge, who does support the bill, said the palliative care package fell "well short" of matching the coalition's promise of $140 million.

"Daniel Andrews' palliative care announcement fails to ensure that Victorians who are dying have a genuine choice to spend their final days at home," she said in a statement.

Currently the bill has 20 votes of support, but it needs 21 to pass the upper house.

Liberal MP Simon Ramsay has submitted two pages of amendments, with similarities to the government's.


Share
3 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world