Background to legislation development

Why was this considered for Western Australia?

• In 2017 a Joint Select Committee on End of Life Choices (the Committee) was established by the Parliament of Western Australia.
• The Committee undertook an Inquiry into the need for laws in Western Australia (WA) to allow citizens to make informed decisions regarding their own end-of-life choices.
• The Committee handed down its report My Life, My Choice (the Report) to both Houses of Parliament on 23 August 2018 which outlined 52 findings and made 24 recommendations in relation to end-of-life choices.
• Unnecessary suffering at end of life, and broad community agreement regarding individual autonomy, formed the basis for the Committee’s recommendation that the Western Australian Government draft and introduce a Bill for Voluntary Assisted Dying.
• The WA Government considered its response to the Committee's report and instructed the Department of Health and the Department of Justice to implement the Committee’s recommendations relating to VAD, including developing legislation.

Ministerial Expert Panel Consultation

• Consultation has now ended.
• During March, April and May 2019 the Ministerial Expert Panel consulted widely.
• The Discussion Paper aimed to promote discussion and generate suggestions at the metropolitan and regional consultations conducted by the Panel.
• The experience, knowledge and insights of the community and of experts on particular issues, will help in the development of fully informed and workable legislation, to ensure safe and compassionate processes for voluntary assisted dying.
• Throughout the consultation period, the Panel listened carefully and respectfully to differing views, comments and suggestions.
• Feedback provided helped to inform the Panel's final report and recommendations to the Minister for Health.
• Submissions received by the Panel will be published on this website unless the individual / submitter requested that their submission is not made public.

Further information can be found on the Voluntary Assisted Dying public consultation page.