Victoria debating voluntary assisted dying laws

The Parliamentary Library has produced a Bill Brief to provide an overview of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Amendment Bill 2025, including the background to its introduction, the proposed amendments, and responses to the bill.  
 
It follows a comprehensive five-year review of the original 2017 legislation. The review found the system was functioning as intended but highlighted barriers to access and areas for improvement. 
 
The Bill Brief outlines the key changes proposed by the bill, including the removal of the controversial 'gag clause', allowing medical practitioners to initiate discussions about volutary assited dying during end-of-life care conversations.  
 
The brief also outlines measures dealing with conscientious objectors, eligibility criteria and access amendments. 
 
The brief also canvasses some of the arguments for and against the bill raised by MPs, medical ethicists, doctors and religious leaders. 

The debate in the Legislative Assembly is being progressively published in Hansard.