Tears and applause as WA becomes second Australian state to pass laws

This article is more than 9 months old

This article is more than 9 months old

Western Australia has become the second Australian state to legalise voluntary assisted dying.

The lower house on Tuesday approved 55 amendments to the Labor government’s bill, bringing to an end a heated and emotional parliamentary debate.

Under the scheme, terminally ill adults in pain and likely to have less than six months to live – or one year if they have a neurodegenerative condition – will be able to take a drug to end their lives if approved by two medical practitioners.

More than 180 hours were spent debating the legislation in parliament, mostly in the upper house where it was heavily amended.

Assisted dying explained: Victoria's new laws, the safeguards and the Catholic resistance Read more

WA follows Victoria in enabling voluntary assisted dying, with the scheme expected to be implemented in 18 months’ time.

The health minister, Roger Cook, who was applauded by MPs on both sides for his handling of the bill, said it was a significant moment for the typically conservative state.

“Western Australia is not known for its progressiveness in terms of its legislative reform,” he noted. “I’d like to think we’ve come a respectable second [to Victoria].”

Cook, who oversaw the bill’s introduction, choked back tears as he welcomed the passing of the legislation.

“We are at the end of a very long process, a momentous process for the West Australian parliament and West Australian public,” he told the chamber.

“It’s not a time for jubilation. Everyone knows what this legislation is about. It’s about reflection. And to reflect that we’ve chosen compassion and the right to choose.”

The premier, Mark McGowan, said: “Today we showed that at least in Western Australia, we can do big things. And in this parliament we have big, compassionate hearts and we’re willing to take some political risks to do the right thing.”

The anti-assisted dying group Right to Life Australia described the legislation’s passage as “a great tragedy for Australia”. “This is a bill of despair and lack of hope. It sends a message that some lives are not worthy to be lived.”

But Dying with Dignity WA president Stephen Walker said the law “balances strong safeguards with appropriate accessibility, which together will at long last give many dying people the choice to limit their suffering at the end of life”.

Crossing the threshold: how Victoria's assisted dying law finally made history Read more

The Australian Medical Association WA president Andrew Miller stressed that “getting the details right will be very important”. “There is still much to do in the fit-out of this process,” he added.

Lobby groups including Go Gentle Australia, led by TV personality Andrew Denton, will now turn their attention to South Australia and Queensland, which initiated parliamentary inquiries into assisted dying earlier this year.

“In tandem with the increased funding and support for palliative care that has flowed from this debate, we believe the passing of VAD law will lead to better and more compassionate end of life choices for all West Australians,” Go Gentle said in a statement.

“There is no excuse now for other states not to follow suit. There is no excuse now for the territories not to have restored their right to decide this issue by themselves.”

• In Australia, support is available at BeyondBlue on 1300 22 4636 or www.beyondblue.org.au; at the crisis support service Lifeline at 13 11 14 orwww.lifeline.org.au; and at Mensline on 1300 789 978 or www.mensline.org.au. In the US, Mental Health America is at 800-273-8255 andwww.mentalhealthamerica.net. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123, or go to www.samaritans.org to find details of your nearest branch



