Euthanasia in Australia

Laws regarding euthanasia or assisted suicide in Australia are matters for state and territory governments. As of November 2023 all states have implemented legislation creating an assisted suicide scheme for eligible individuals. These laws typically refer to assisted suicide as "voluntary assisted dying".

Voluntary assisted dying schemes have been in effect in the following states; Victoria since 19 June 2019,^[1] Western Australia since 1 July 2021,^[2] Tasmania since 23 October 2022,^[3] Queensland since 1 January 2023,^[4] South Australia since 31 January 2023^[5] and New South Wales since 28 November 2023.^[6]

Voluntary euthanasia and assisted dying is currently unlawful in the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. Federal law prohibited these territories from legislating for the practice between 1997 and 2022. This federal ban was in response to the legalisation of euthanasia for a period between 1996 and 1997 in the Northern Territory.^[7]

Throughout Australia a patient can elect not to receive any treatment for a terminal illness and can also elect to have their life support turned off.^[8] Advance care planning is also available throughout Australia.^[9]

^ Cunningham, Melissa (19 June 2019). "'We're on the right side of history': Victoria's assisted dying laws come into effect for terminally ill". The Age. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
^ Charlotte Hamlyn (29 June 2019). "WA's voluntary assisted dying laws come into effect tomorrow as community leaders remain split". ABC News. After an 18-month implementation period, Western Australia's voluntary assisted dying laws come into effect on Thursday (1 July 2019).
^ Will Murray (23 October 2022). "Tasmania's voluntary assisted dying laws come into effect today. Here's how they will work". ABC News.
^ "Voluntary assisted dying is now legal in Queensland. Here's what you need to know". SBS News. 1 January 2023.
^ Isabel Dayman (31 January 2023). "Voluntary assisted dying scheme becomes available to eligible patients in South Australia". ABC News.
^ Haining, C., White, B., Del Villar, K., & Willmott, L. (28 November 2023). "Voluntary assisted dying is now available in all Australian states. How do the NSW laws compare?". The Conversation.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ "Victoria first jurisdiction to allow euthanasia in over two decades". ABC Radio. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
^ "Advance Care Directives – South Australia". www.advancecaredirectives.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
^ "Advance Care Planning Australia". www.advancecareplanning.org.au. Retrieved 31 March 2023.

[1] Cunningham, Melissa (19 June 2019). "'We're on the right side of history': Victoria's assisted dying laws come into effect for terminally ill". The Age. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.

[2] Charlotte Hamlyn (29 June 2019). "WA's voluntary assisted dying laws come into effect tomorrow as community leaders remain split". ABC News. After an 18-month implementation period, Western Australia's voluntary assisted dying laws come into effect on Thursday (1 July 2019).

[Tas23Oct2022-3] Will Murray (23 October 2022). "Tasmania's voluntary assisted dying laws come into effect today. Here's how they will work". ABC News.

[4] "Voluntary assisted dying is now legal in Queensland. Here's what you need to know". SBS News. 1 January 2023.

[SA31Jan2023-5] Isabel Dayman (31 January 2023). "Voluntary assisted dying scheme becomes available to eligible patients in South Australia". ABC News.

[NSWintoeffect-6] Haining, C., White, B., Del Villar, K., & Willmott, L. (28 November 2023). "Voluntary assisted dying is now available in all Australian states. How do the NSW laws compare?". The Conversation.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[7] "Victoria first jurisdiction to allow euthanasia in over two decades". ABC Radio. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.

[8] "Advance Care Directives – South Australia". www.advancecaredirectives.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 19 October 2016.

[9] "Advance Care Planning Australia". www.advancecareplanning.org.au. Retrieved 31 March 2023.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]