A year-long inquiry into establishing euthanasia laws in Queensland is reflective of a recent trend in Australia to review end of life choices available to patients, say QUT law experts.
Professor Lindy Willmott from QUT’s Australian Centre for Health Law Research said the review was a landmark decision by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk as never before had there been attempts to reform assisted dying laws in the state.
“There is no Upper House in Queensland’s Parliament so the passage of laws may be less complex than other states,” Professor Willmott said.
The review was announced by the Queensland Government today which will be run by the Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee.
Professor Ben White (pictured below), also from QUT’s Australian Centre for Health Law Research, said it was important for the review to be well-resourced so that the committee can hear the experience and views of Queenslanders.
“There is now a great deal of international research about how assisted dying laws have been operating, and it is important for the committee to consider the evidence too.”
The Committee is due to report back to the government by November 30, 2019.
In Victoria, legislation allowing assisted dying will come into effect mid next year.
Professor Willmott (pictured right) said sustained efforts to change the law in Australia to permit voluntary assisted dying would be a case of “when not if”.
“It signals an increased willingness for politicians to contemplate reform which is in keeping with community expectations,” she said.
She said the Victorian laws were “very conservative”.
“It will be interesting to see if Queensland adopts a similar model, or explores some of the other laws passed in other countries.
Professor Willmott and QUT’s Professor Ben White have conducted comprehensive reviews of end-of-life law across Australia.
Their research prompted QUT’s End of Life Law in Australia to help provide clarity for doctors, their patients and families.
The researchers are also conducting Australia’s first systematic analysis into the legal dimensions of pain relief end-of-life patients.
MEDIA CONTACT: media@qut.edu.au After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901
