The Australian pro-euthanasia lobby was inspired by the Quebec’s approach to try to legalise euthanasia in Australia. In the last few years, there have been several attempts to legalise euthanasia or assisted suicide in different Australian States. It was even legal for a short time in the Northern Territories, but the law was voided after an amendment to the Commonwealth to the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978.
Paul Russell explains how those who would like to see euthanasia legalised in Australia have now organised the introduction of a bill at the federal level. The Australian situation is somewhat the opposite of that in Canada. The Australian Commonwealth has shared power in health. So presenting euthanasia as a form of health care at the federal level could get around restrictions found at state level.
An important question here is whether or not a federal law could sustain a legal challenge if it conflicted with State legislation.
We expected that legalising “medical aid in dying”(which is actually euthanasia) in Quebec would have an impact outside of Quebec. It is happening sooner than we thought. Definitely something to watch.
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2014