- Victoria will be the first Australian state to legalise voluntary assisted dying
- The state’s upper house took a vote, supporting the legislation on Wednesday
- The outcome follows a second night-long sitting of the legislative council
Through teary and tired eyes politicians in Victoria’s upper house have voted 22-18 in favour of legalising voluntary assisted dying.
After months of heated debate the controversial legislation cleared what most consider the final hurdle on Wednesday, with Victoria now poised to become the first Australian state to legalise such a scheme.
The final tick is due next week with the lower house expected to approve amendments before an 18-month turnaround, meaning the scheme can be operational by 2019.
Colleen Hartland MP is congratulated as the bill passes inside of the Parliament of Victoria
After months of heated debate the controversial legislation cleared what most consider the final hurdle
‘This is a momentous day in the parliament of Victoria,’ Labor MP Gavin Jennings told the legislative council after the narrow vote.
The chamber started sitting at midday on Tuesday and took only a short break for lunch on Wednesday during the marathon.
‘I haven’t had a wink of sleep,’ the Liberal’s Inga Peulich told the legislative council after 27 hours of back-and-forth, as the government-proposed bill neared a vote.
‘And that is why I’ve been critical of the process. These issues are far too important to do on a run and a hop.’
Emotions were raw when the vote was finalised.
‘You’ve made a terrible mistake,’ anti-voluntary assisted dying campaigner Frances Beaumont yelled at MPs.
Euthanasia advocate and media identity Andrew Denton left parliament after the vote without comment, saying he would leave the commentary to the politicians.
Victoria is now set to become the first Australian state to legalise optional euthanasia by 2019
The final tick is due next week with the lower house expected to approve amendments before an 18-month turnaround