A “proud” Premier Daniel Andrews says terminally ill Victorians are closer to getting the dignity they deserve after voluntary assisted dying laws passed the lower house.
After an all-night session in parliament discussing 141 amendments, the Labor government’s voluntary euthanasia bill passed 47-37 on Friday morning and will now go to the upper house for further scrutiny.
The proposed laws say terminally ill Victorian residents with less than 12 months to live and who are suffering unbearable pain will be able to request lethal medication.
“My colleagues and I are very proud that we have taken a very big step towards giving many, many Victorians the dignity and compassion they have been denied for far too long,” Mr Andrews told reporters shortly after the vote.
MPs who opposed the bill proposed 141 amendments, but none of them succeeded.
“Some of these amendments wouldn’t have done any harm as such, but they’re not needed, because there are other laws in Victoria (that cover those issues),” Mr Andrews said.
Deputy Premier James Merlino led the Labor opposition to the proposed laws, which survived his attempt to kill them off on Wednesday.
Controversial laws to legalise euthanasia in Victoria have passed the Lower House – 47 to 37 votes – after a marathon parliamentary debate. pic.twitter.com/7retBB6p2L
— 7 News Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) October 20, 2017