Tuesday, 18 November 2025

Bills

Voluntary Assisted Dying Amendment Bill 2025

Council’s amendments

Message from Council relating to amendments further considered.

Debate resumed on motion of Mary-Anne Thomas:

That the amendments be agreed to.

Council’s amendments:

1.   Clause 4, page 4, lines 4 to 6, omit all words and expressions on these lines.

2.   Clause 4, page 4, after line 19 insert –

“registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practice profession (other than as a student);”.

3.   Clause 4, page 4, after line 27 insert –

“registered psychologist means a person who is registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practice in the psychology profession (other than as a student);”.

4.   Clause 6, line 19, omit “registered health practitioner” and insert “registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner”.

5.   Clause 6, lines 27 and 28, omit “registered health practitioner or a health service provider” and insert “registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner”.

6.   Clause 6, lines 32 and 33, omit all words and expressions on these lines and insert –

‘(b) give the person the following information –

(i)   contact details for the prescribed voluntary assisted dying care navigator service;

(ii)   the address of an Internet site of the Department of Health that provides information about voluntary assisted dying.”.’.

7.   Clause 7, page 9, lines 2 to 4, omit “a registered health practitioner who is not a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner” and insert “certain registered health practitioners”.

8.   Clause 7, page 9, lines 7 to 12, omit all words and expressions on these lines and insert –

“(1) This section applies to the following registered health practitioners who provide health services or professional care services to a person –

(a)   a registered nurse (other than a nurse practitioner);

(b)   a registered psychologist;

(c)   a registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner.”.

9.   Clause 7, page 9, line 34, omit ‘Law.”.’ and insert “Law.”.

10.   Clause 7, page 9, after line 34 insert –

‘8B Discussion about voluntary assisted dying must not be initiated by other classes of registered health practitioners

(1)   This section applies to a registered health practitioner who –

(a)   provides health services or professional care services to a person; and

(b)   is not a registered medical practitioner, registered nurse, registered psychologist or registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner.

(2)   A registered health practitioner to whom this section applies must not, in the course of providing health services or professional care services to a person –

(a)   initiate discussion with the person that is in substance about voluntary assisted dying; or

(b)   in substance, suggest voluntary assisted dying to that person.

(3)   Nothing in subsection (2) prevents a registered health practitioner to whom this section applies providing information about voluntary assisted dying to a person at that person’s request.

(4)   A contravention of subsection (2) is to be regarded as unprofessional conduct within the meaning and for the purposes of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.”.’.

11.   Clause 12, lines 27 and 28, omit all words and expressions on these lines and insert –

‘(b) give the person the following information –

(i)   contact details for the prescribed voluntary assisted dying care navigator service;

(ii)   the address of an Internet site of the Department of Health that provides information about voluntary assisted dying.”.’.

12.   Clause 59, lines 3 to 10, omit all words and expressions on these lines and insert –

‘(1) Before section 75(1)(a) of the Principal Act insert –

“(aa)   who is a registered medical practitioner, registered nurse, registered psychologist or registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner is, in the course of providing health services or professional care services to a person, initiating or attempting to initiate a discussion about voluntary assisted dying with that person that is not, or would not be, in accordance with this Act; or”.

(2) In section 75(1)(a) of the Principal Act –

(a)   for “provides health services or professional care services to a person is” substitute “is not a registered medical practitioner, registered nurse, registered psychologist or registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner is, in the course of providing health services or professional care services to a person”;

(b)   in subparagraph (i) omit “in the course of providing those services to the person,”.’.

13.   Clause 60, lines 12 to 19, omit all words and expressions on these lines and insert –

‘(1) Before section 76(1)(a) of the Principal Act insert –

“(aa)   who is a registered medical practitioner, registered nurse, registered psychologist or registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner is, in the course of providing health services or professional care services to a person, initiating or attempting to initiate a discussion about voluntary assisted dying with that person that is not, or would not be, in accordance with this Act; or”.

(2) In section 76(1)(a) of the Principal Act –

(a)   for “provides health services or professional care services to a person is” substitute “is not a registered medical practitioner, registered nurse, registered psychologist or registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner is, in the course of providing health services or professional care services to a person”;

(b)   in subparagraph (i) omit “in the course of providing those services to the person,”.’.

14.   Clause 61, lines 21 to 28, omit all words and expressions on these lines and insert –

‘(1) Before section 77(a) of the Principal Act insert –

“(aa)   who is a registered medical practitioner, registered nurse, registered psychologist or registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner is, in the course of providing health services or professional care services to a person, initiating or attempting to initiate a discussion about voluntary assisted dying with that person that is not, or would not be, in accordance with this Act; or”.

(2) In section 77(a) of the Principal Act –

(a)   for “provides health services or professional care services to a person is” substitute “is not a registered medical practitioner, registered nurse, registered psychologist or registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner is, in the course of providing health services or professional care services to a person”;

(b)   in subparagraph (i) omit “in the course of providing those services to the person,”.’.

Motion agreed to.