WA assisted dying bill may be delayed
Western Australia's voluntary assisted dying laws could be delayed if a crossbencher convinces the upper house to refer the bill to another inquiry but a ministerial expert panel is urging against any amendments.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Rick Mazza revealed on Tuesday he wants to refer the bill to a committee to consult indigenous people about palliative care options in regional and remote communities, and consider whether the legislation offers culturally appropriate end-of-life choices.
Under the plan, the committee would provide a report by February 11 but it is understood supporters of the legislation are cautiously optimistic they can defeat Mr Mazza's motion.
Meanwhile, the panel that made recommendations to assist the state government's bill, have written to upper house MPs outlining their arguments against eight proposed amendments, saying the bill provides a "safe and compassionate legal framework".
Former WA governor Malcolm McCusker, who led the panel, rejected the suggestion they were overstepping boundaries.
"We weren't intending to lobby anyone or push a particular viewpoint, we were simply explaining ... the reasons for the various recommendations," he told reporters.
Mr McCusker declined to comment on Mr Mazza's motion, saying that was a political issue.
The panel said an amendment requiring the disease be incurable "would cast too heavy a burden", while a suggestion one of the assessing doctors be a specialist was dismissed because there may be few of them.
A further amendment that a medical practitioner be prohibited from initiating the discussion with a patient was rejected because it "risks creating more barriers to timely end-of-life and advance care planning discussions".
The panel also disagrees with listing voluntary assisted dying as the cause of death, describing it as suicide and requiring self-administration be mandatory unless a person is physically incapable.
The legislation sailed through the lower house in September without amendments, 46 in favour and 11 against, after more than 70 hours of debate that included an all-night sitting.
Under the proposed laws, which include 102 safeguards, terminally ill adults living in WA who are in pain and likely have less than six months to live - or one year if they have a neurodegenerative condition - could take a drug to end their lives.
The state government wants the legislation to pass by the end of the year but if Mr Mazza's motion succeeds, another inquiry could delay the laws until well into next year.
Victoria is currently the only state where voluntary assisted dying is legal.
