Skip navigation
  1. Home
  2. VAD in Australia
  3. FAQs
  4. Is voluntary assisted dying legal in Australia?
What is voluntary assisted dying? Is voluntary assisted dying the same as euthanasia? Is voluntary assisted dying legal in Australia? I live in the NT or ACT. Can I access voluntary assisted dying? Who can use voluntary assisted dying in Australia? How can I find out more about voluntary assisted dying laws in my state? I am terminally ill and want to find out more about voluntary assisted dying. Who can I contact? I'm a doctor. How can I learn more about voluntary assisted dying in my state? What other end-of-life options are available? What is the assessment process for voluntary assisted dying? How long does the voluntary assisted dying application take? How much does voluntary assisted dying cost? Does voluntary assisted dying affect insurance payouts? Can I die at home with voluntary assisted dying? Can I travel between states to use voluntary assisted dying somewhere else? Is voluntary assisted dying safe? Can I talk about voluntary assisted dying with my doctor? How can I talk about voluntary assisted dying with my family? Is voluntary assisted dying the same as suicide? What does the Australian public think about voluntary assisted dying? How many people use voluntary assisted dying laws in Australia?

Is voluntary assisted dying legal in Australia?

Answer

Yes. Every state has passed and implemented its own voluntary assisted dying law. 

The ACT passed the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2023 on 5 June 2024. ACT residents will have access to assisted dying on 3 November 2025, after an 18-month implementation period. 

The NT Government has assembled an Expert Advisory Panel to consider the legalisation of VAD in the Territory. Led by co-chairs The Hon Vicki O’Halloran AO CVO and Duncan McConnel SC, the panel comprises Dr Christine Sanderson, Dr Devaki Monani, Dr Geetanjali Lamba, Dr Kane Vellar, Mrs Susan Shearer, and Mrs Ursula Raymond. A report is due by July 2024. Sign up for free updates here.