NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying

Right now in NSW, religious retirement villages or residential facilities are forced to allow “voluntary assisted dying” (VAD) on their premises. Even though individuals have the right to conscientious objection, faith-based institutions do not.

On October 15, Susan Carter MLC introduced a bill into the NSW Legislative Council that would give conscience protections to faith-based residential facilities. This important amendment would ensure these communities can continue to operate consistently with their beliefs, while still respecting individual rights. The amendment simply allows faith-based residential aged care to decline to have VAD occur on their property, in the same way that hospitals already can.

All Members of the Legislative Council have been given a conscience vote, and many MLCs from both Labor and the Coalition have already said they will support the amendment.

Unfortunately, although MLCs from all sides of politics voted for the bill, it still did not get a majority.

Joint faith leaders letter

Nearly 30 faith leaders signed a joint statement calling on the Parliament to pass this important amendment and protect institutional religious freedom.

Read the joint statement here

Final vote

The final vote was lost 16-23, needing only 4 MLCs to change their vote for it to have passed.

It was encouraging to see members from both sides of politics supporting the amendment. However, we were disappointed by some of the members who opposed the amendment whom we thought would have been supportive.