The ACT’s Chief Minister Andrew Barr says voluntary euthanasia could be made lawful in the territory by the end of 2024. Source: Canberra Times.
Mr Barr outlined in detail what he saw as the schedule for legislation once the federal parliament has restored the ACT’s right to make its own law on the matter.
He said that there would be consultation with the public early in the new year, probably in late January or early February.
The consultation would include questions of who might be eligible to seek help in ending their own lives, residence requirements and what safeguards there should be.
That process would run for two months and then feedback would be compiled and studied, he said.
A law would be drafted and go through scrutiny committees, and “that could take three months”, Mr Barr said.
It would come for debate in the assembly at the end of 2023 or early 2024. There would be legislation (or not if the bill was voted down) by the end of 2024 (before a new election).
Mr Barr said the debate and vote in the legislative assembly would be on the consciences of individual Labor members, and he had talked to the Liberals and they took the same view.
FULL STORY
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr says voluntary assisted dying could be lawful by 2024 (By Steve Evans and Lucy Bladen, Canberra Times)
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