In 2015, the Victorian Parliament's Legislative Council referred the issue of end of life care to one of their committees. The (Legal and Social Affairs) Committee then established an Inquiry into End of Life Choices which ran from 2015-16, issuing a Final Report in 2016. Despite many good recommendations, the final recommendation, proposed a framework of legalised physician assisted suicide and euthanasia.

 

At the end of 2016, the Victorian Government announced their response to the Inquiry and their intention to legislate for euthanasia and physician assisted suicide.

A Ministerial Advisory Panel was set up in 2017 to advise the Government on the issue. The Panel issued a final report in July 2017, providing a suggested framework for legalising physician assisted suicide and euthanasia in Victoria.

 

The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill was introduced by the Victorian Government and passed by the Victorian Parliament in 2017. On 19 June 2019, the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act comes into effect, allowing for physician assisted suicide and euthanasia in the State of Victoria.

For responses to the work of the Ministerial Advisory Panel (MAP) see:

• Response by the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne to the MAP Discussion Paper
  
• Response by Catholic Health Australia to the MAP Discussion Paper
  
• Response by Caroline Chisholm Centre for Health Ethics to the MAP Discussion Paper
• Statement by Archbishop Hart on the MAP Final Report
• Statement by Mercy Health Australia on the MAP Final Report
  
• Statement by St Vincent's Health Australia on the MAP Final Report
• Statement by Cabrini Health rejecting the proposal for doctor assisted suicide