- Victoria become the first state in Australia to pass assisted suicide laws
- Terminally ill patients will now have the right to request a lethal injection
- Lower and Upper Houses debated the issue for more than 100 hours
- The landmark new laws will come into effect mid next-year
Victoria has become Australia’s first state to legalise assisted suicide after the landmark pilled passed through parliament.
After more than 100 hours of debate through the Lower and Upper Houses, terminally ill patients will now have the right to request a lethal injection and end their suffering.
Emotional scenes swept over the room as MPs burst into tears and embraced each other as the voluntary euthanasia bill went through.
Victoria has become Australia’s first state to legalise assisted suicide after the landmark pilled passed through parliament
Emotional scenes swept over the room as MPs burst into tears and embraced each other as the voluntary euthanasia bill went through
The bill passed through the Upper House with a small majority of 22 to 18 last week, while the Lower House approved the bill with a 47 to 37 majority.
The original bill proposed by Premier Daniel Andrews’ government was amended throughout the process, with service being available to people with 12 months to live cut in half.
People with six months to live will have access to assisted suicide, with special exemptions for people suffering from certain conditions including motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis.
The laws will come into effect mid-next year.
The bill passed through the Upper House with a small majority of 22 to 18 last week, while the Lower House approved the bill with a 47 to 37 majority
The original bill proposed by Premier Daniel Andrews’ government was amended throughout the process, with the service being available to people with 12 months to live cut in half