Arabic version: حزب العمال يؤيد تصويتاً ضميرياً بشأن الوصول إلى المساعدة الطبية على الموت عبر التطبيب عن بُعد

According to ABC News, Labor delegates at the party’s national conference in Adelaide backed an amendment supporting a conscience vote on removing federal barriers to voluntary assisted dying consultations via telehealth.

The amendment says Labor would remove barriers in federal law to end-of-life care, including telehealth, as part of lawful access to voluntary assisted dying in states and territories while maintaining appropriate clinical safeguards. Delegates also added a constitutional guarantee that Labor will always allow a conscience vote on voluntary assisted dying.

Federal law currently prevents telehealth consultations for voluntary assisted dying, with doctors facing fines of up to $300,000 for discussing the matter by phone or video. Go Gentle Australia chief executive Dr Linda Swan welcomed the conference vote, saying current Criminal Code restrictions create barriers for terminally ill people in rural and regional areas who may have to travel long distances for in-person assessments.

Victorian Labor MP Ryan Bachelor said the change targeted a Howard government-era Criminal Code provision that effectively bans electronic communication for voluntary assisted dying information. But NSW state MP Sally Quinnell opposed the amendment, warning against gradually removing safeguards and arguing that end-of-life decisions should involve in-person consultation, empathy and careful listening.

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland supported a conscience vote but said she was not convinced a blanket telehealth change should proceed. She said any further work should be backed by rigorous evidence and safeguards, citing concerns about the Criminal Code’s protections against counselling or inciting suicide, risks to young people, and potential elder abuse. Any federal legal change would require future government action and parliamentary support.