Queensland Australia euthanasia bill is deferred until after the October election

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Queensland Australia Parliament

ABC News Australia, state political reporter, Josh Bavas, reported that the Queensland Australia euthanasia bill will be deferred until after the October 31, 2020 election. Bavas reported:

...Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told parliament this morning the legislation would instead be referred to the Queensland Law Reform Commission for consideration, with an expectation it would respond after the October state election. 

Ms Palaszczuk said a response would be expected by March next year. 

"Voluntary assisted dying is very complex and it is a deeply personal issue in which competing interests and views of Queenslanders and experts have to be carefully balanced and the lives of our elderly and the most vulnerable people protected," she said. 

"The provision of compassionate, high quality and accessible palliative care for persons at their end of life is a fundamental right for the Queensland community and it is critical that we get this right.

The Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee of the Queensland parliament has, in a report tabled on 31 March 2020, supported the legalization of euthanasia.

We hope that the October 31 election will change the position of the Queensland Australia parliament.