Momentous step as voluntary assisted dying bill passes upper house

But Premier Peter Gutwein has announced that the lower house will not take a final vote on the legislation until next year, saying debate on it was expected to commence early next month, with the House of Assembly to sit an additional day in December to do so.

Brought before the Legislative Council by independent Mersey MLC Mike Gaffney, the End of Life Choices (Voluntary Assisted Dying) Bill has been delved into by members over several weeks and a number of late-night sittings.

The legislation consists of more than 140 clauses, many of which have been amended in the course of the parliamentary debate.

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This is the fourth time voluntary assisted dying laws have been debated in the State Parliament and the furthest they have progressed to date.

Members of the government in the lower house will be allowed a conscience vote on the bill when it is tabled there, while all nine Labor MHAs and both Greens are expected to support it.

Independent Clark MHA Madeleine Ogilvie voted against similar legislation when she was a state Labor politician in 2017, while Speaker of the House of Assembly Sue Hickey has indicated she supports the bill in principle but would only have the opportunity to vote on it if she was called on to utilise her casting vote.

More to come