The ACT Government has opened the consultation to inform the development of a voluntary assisted dying model for the ACT.
Voluntary assisted dying is a safe and effective medical process that gives an eligible person the option to end their suffering by choosing how and when they die.
Minister for Human Rights, Tara Cheyne, said the feedback from this consultation will be used to inform the development of the legislation and the model we will use in the ACT.
"With strong community support for voluntary assisted dying in the ACT, this consultation is about understanding the community's views about how a scheme in the ACT could work, including eligibility criteria and appropriate safeguards."
To assist the consultation, a discussion paper has been released which provides information and analysis on the operation of voluntary assisted dying schemes in the Australian states and presents some of the key questions the ACT should consider in developing our approach to voluntary assisted dying.
"While we have the benefit of existing legislation and experiences in the Australian states, they are at different stages of implementation and each jurisdiction has its own unique characteristics," Minister Cheyne said.
"Through this consultation, we are looking to learn and draw from other jurisdictions' experiences while developing a model which reflects our own community's values."
In addition to looking forward to hearing from the Canberra community, the government will engage directly with health professionals and a broad range of interested stakeholders throughout the consultation period.
The consultation will close on Thursday, 6 April 2023.
Following community consultation, the ACT Government will prepare a listening report that summarises and reflects the feedback we have received.
This report will inform the development of the legislation, which we intend to introduce into parliament in the second half of 2023. It is anticipated that a parliamentary committee would review the legislation before the law is debated.
