Residents in the south metropolitan area are urged to attend a public forum to have their say on issues related to voluntary assisted dying legislation, due to be introduced to State Parliament later this year.
The forum will be held at Fiona Stanley Hospital on Monday, April 29, and follows the March release of a discussion paper by the Ministerial Expert Panel on Voluntary Assisted Dying and the announcement of consultation until May 24, 2019.
Public forums have been already held in the central and northern suburbs of Perth, as well as in country Western Australia. More regional sessions will go ahead in May.
The Fiona Stanley Hospital session will run from 10am-1pm, led by members of the Ministerial Expert Panel on Voluntary Assisted Dying, and chaired by panel chairperson, Malcolm McCusker AC QC.
Auslan translation will be available and people who cannot attend in person can register, view the session and ask questions via a webinar.
People who cannot attend a session can also lodge written or online submissions for consideration by the panel. Feedback will help inform the expert panel's final report to the Government.
The purpose of the discussion paper and the consultation is to assist the development of safe, compassionate and workable legislation.
The arguments for or against voluntary assisted dying will not be debated as part of this process.
The closing date for submissions in response to the discussion paper is May 24, 2019.
Registration details for the Fiona Stanley Hospital session, the discussion paper and more information about the consultation and proposed legislation can be found at http://www.health.wa.gov.au/voluntaryassisteddying
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
"Western Australians have shown consistent and widespread community support for voluntary assisted dying reform, and the McGowan Government is committed to ensuring the highest quality end-of-life and palliative care for all Western Australians.
"The public forums held to date have been well attended and have generated discussion and feedback which is instrumental to understanding community views. Many people have also contributed to this important debate through written and online submissions.
"This consultation is a vital step towards developing legislation that meets the needs of Western Australians and ensures the introduction of appropriate safeguards for all involved.
"I strongly encourage as many people as possible to take the opportunity to comment on the key issues outlined in this discussion paper as this is an issue that impacts us all."
