Voluntary assisted dying has been legalized in Australia, giving terminally ill patients the power to decide when to end their lives.
Members of the New South Wales Parliament debated whether to pass the legislation on Wednesday, legalizing the controversial law.
In the state’s Upper House, the legislation received twenty-three votes in favor of the new law, and fifteen against. Officials also made dozens of other amendments, debating through to Thursday morning.
This new move by the state follows in the footsteps of the rest of Australia and could be rolled out in just over a year.
This vote comes after 5 years of debating the issue, after the bill was finally brought to parliament in 2021, by MP, Alex Greenwich, who said the bill was about “honesty and compassion” to those suffering from a terminal illness.
Adam Searle, Co-sponsor and Legislative Council member, thanked those advocating to legalize euthanasia for so long, making it possible to pass the bill.
“I want to acknowledge the suffering of those who died waiting for this compassionate measure,” he said.
“Opponents of this bill have said this about the killing of innocent persons.
“We are motivated by love, by respect, by compassion, and because we think ultimately these choices should be for the person concerned as well as their families in light of all of the information they should have given to them.
“It reflects an enhanced respect for life… Let’s make this law,” he concluded.
However, the law has also been met with extreme disgust by some, including Liberal Party Finance Minister Damien Tudehope, who called the move a “dreadful mistake.”
“It was a sad day because it was an opportunity for NSW to say ‘we can be better than this,'” he said.
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