Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has expressed support for proposed amendments to voluntary assisted dying (VAD) laws in New South Wales, asserting that the changes would provide a reasonable compromise for aged care facilities. The proposal comes from Susan Carter, a Liberal Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), who aims to amend current legislation to allow aged care homes to transfer terminally ill residents to other facilities if they wish to choose the timing of their death.
Carter’s bill seeks to grant aged care facilities the ability to “decline to facilitate the administration of voluntary assisted dying services,” while maintaining obligations to make alternative arrangements, similar to the provisions applicable in hospitals. The legislation has garnered support from 12 co-sponsors, including notable names from the Liberal Party such as Anthony Roberts, Damien Tudehope, Chris Rath, and Natasha Maclaren-Jones, as well as Mark Latham and representatives from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party, Robert Borsak and Mark Banasiak.
While Speakman endorses the proposed amendments, Uniting NSW.ACT, a faith-based operator overseeing 71 aged care homes in the region, maintains a different perspective on VAD. Chief Executive Tracey Burton stated that the organization’s approach focuses on “walking alongside our residents at end of life” rather than relocating them. She emphasized that residential aged care homes are “people’s homes,” where older individuals retain the same rights as anyone else in the community.
Burton reiterated Uniting’s commitment to ensuring that residents who wish to explore VAD will not feel judged or abandoned, and that their ongoing care will remain unaffected. “If someone we care for with a life-limiting illness wishes to explore VAD as an option, the individual, their family, and their carers will not be made to feel judged, abandoned, or scared,” she explained.
In response to criticism, Carter clarified that her bill is not intended to hinder access to euthanasia. Instead, she argues it would empower aged care facilities with greater freedom and choice in their operations. The ongoing debate within the Liberal Party reflects a broader conversation about the role of aged care institutions in facilitating end-of-life choices for residents.
As discussions unfold, the implications of these amendments could significantly reshape the landscape of voluntary assisted dying in New South Wales, highlighting the need for a balanced approach that respects both the rights of individuals and the operational concerns of aged care providers.
