Victoria’s Parliament will consider a push by the Greens to review the state’s voluntary euthanasia laws, seven years after a bill to legalise medically assisted suicide was defeated.
A motion, to be debated in the Upper House on Wednesday, asks Attorney-General Martin Pakula to refer the issue to the Law Reform Commission.
The commission would be asked to conduct a thorough review of the legal ramifications and public views on the issue.
Greens MP Colleen Hartland said there was widespread public support for voluntary euthanasia laws in Victoria.
“I think anybody who has gone through a traumatic death of a loved one knows that we need to do much better,” Ms Hartland said.
“But it’s how we do much better that we need to research and understand.”
A poll by the ABC’s Vote Compass before the 2014 state election found that 79 per cent of Labor voters and 71 per cent of Coalition voters supported medically assisted suicide.
A bill introduced by the Greens in 2008 which sought to legalise voluntary euthanasia was voted down.
Ms Hartland said the Law Reform Commission was best placed to review the issue, and map out any possible changes to the law.
“We believe that is the appropriate place for this to go so we can have that conversation with the community about whether it is a good thing or not to have dying with dignity legislation,” she said.
“It also gives those who are opposed, those who support it and those who are not sure to have an opportunity to express their views.
“We know the Law Reform Commission does extremely good, independent work.”
The Liberal Party will allow its MPs in the Upper House to have a conscience vote on whether the matter should be referred to the Law Reform Commission.
It is unclear whether Labor MPs would be allowed to vote with their conscience.
Sex Party MP Fiona Patten is an advocate of voluntary euthanasia so is likely to support the Greens motion.