The Albanese Government yesterday shut down a vote on removing telehealth barriers to voluntary assisted dying. Source: Courier-Mail.
Riding the momentum from Labor’s national conference last month where delegates agreed to change the laws and give MPs a conscience vote on the issue, independent MP Kate Chaney tried to bring on a debate in Parliament yesterday but was blocked.
Health Minister Mark Butler said the government was looking at moving on the matter, but would do so on its terms – not at the behest of the cross bench.
“The government and the parliamentary party will decide any questions or implementation of our party’s platform,” he said, but stressed he wanted to continue engaging.
He also raised concerns that safeguards around telehealth more broadly had not been used appropriately in the past several years.
Ms Chaney said she didn’t want the government to kick the can down the road.
“The AMA thinks that the current telehealth requirements are adequate for VAD. I’m very happy to work with the government to look at those guidelines and see if there’s anything missing, but very keen to … progress this quickly, because every week this affects more Australians,” she said.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who will try to bring on debate in the Senate later this week, said it was about compassion, empathy and dignity.
Nationals leader Matt Canavan is opposed to voluntary assisted dying in principle, but said his members would be given a conscience vote on the matter.
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Govt accused of failing citizens by blocking assisted dying telehealth vote (By Ellen Ransley, Courier-Mail)
