Assisted dying in Australia

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Assisted dying legislation status in Australian states and territories (as of 2024):
  Voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide illegal
  Voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide legal

Laws regarding euthanasia or assisted suicide in Australia are matters for state and territory governments. As of June 2024 all states and the Australian Capital Territory have passed legislation creating an assisted suicide and euthanasia scheme for eligible individuals. These laws typically refer to the practices as "voluntary assisted dying".

Voluntary assisted dying schemes have been in effect in the following states; Victoria since 19 June 2019,[1] Western Australia since 1 July 2021,[2] Tasmania since 23 October 2022,[3] Queensland since 1 January 2023,[4] South Australia since 31 January 2023[5] and New South Wales since 28 November 2023.[6] A voluntary assisted dying scheme will go into effect in the Australian Capital Territory on 3 November 2025.[7]

Voluntary euthanasia and assisted dying is currently unlawful in the Northern Territory. Federal law prohibited the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory from legislating for the practice between 1997 and 2022. This federal ban was in response to the legalisation of euthanasia for a period between 1996 and 1997 in the Northern Territory.[8]

Throughout Australia a patient can elect not to receive any treatment for a terminal illness and can also elect to have their life support turned off.[9] Advance care planning is also available throughout Australia.[10]

  1. ^ Cunningham, Melissa (19 June 2019). "'We're on the right side of history': Victoria's assisted dying laws come into effect for terminally ill". The Age. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  2. ^ Charlotte Hamlyn (29 June 2019). "WA's voluntary assisted dying laws come into effect tomorrow as community leaders remain split". ABC News. After an 18-month implementation period, Western Australia's voluntary assisted dying laws come into effect on Thursday (1 July 2019).
  3. ^ Will Murray (23 October 2022). "Tasmania's voluntary assisted dying laws come into effect today. Here's how they will work". ABC News.
  4. ^ "Voluntary assisted dying is now legal in Queensland. Here's what you need to know". SBS News. 1 January 2023.
  5. ^ Isabel Dayman (31 January 2023). "Voluntary assisted dying scheme becomes available to eligible patients in South Australia". ABC News.
  6. ^ Haining, C., White, B., Del Villar, K., & Willmott, L. (28 November 2023). "Voluntary assisted dying is now available in all Australian states. How do the NSW laws compare?". The Conversation.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Peter Jean, Emmy Groves, and Victor Petrovic (5 June 2024). "ACT residents set to be able to access voluntary assisted dying after legislation passes Legislative Assembly". ABC News.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Victoria first jurisdiction to allow euthanasia in over two decades". ABC Radio. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  9. ^ "Advance Care Directives – South Australia". www.advancecaredirectives.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  10. ^ "Advance Care Planning Australia". www.advancecareplanning.org.au. Retrieved 31 March 2023.