Our 2025 Election priorities
We've released our 2025 Federal Election Priorities for Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD), calling on federal politicians to commit to three small but significant changes to improve VAD care for dying people and their families.
Go Gentle's federal priorities for action:
- Amend the Cth Criminal Code where it inhibits high-quality VAD care
- Update MBS Explanatory Notes so VAD practitioners are not expected to work for free
- Include VAD in the federal definition of end-of-life care
Without these changes - which can be achieved for low or no cost - many people at the end-of-life will continue to suffer needlessly.
Let’s take a closer look.
1. Amend the Cth Criminal Code where it inhibits high-quality VAD care
Outdated provisions in the Cth Criminal Code restrict the use of electronic communications when providing VAD to terminally ill Australians. This delays and disrupts the process for dying people and their families, and puts health professionals at risk of fines and prosecution – simply for doing their jobs. The AMA, VAD regulatory bodies and all state Health Ministers and Attorneys General agree change is needed, and 20 leading health and legal organisations have signed a joint statement on the issue.
“If telehealth had been an option, it would have made an enormous difference. It could have changed the outcome and, most importantly, empowered my dad in his final moments.”
2. Update MBS Explanatory Notes so VAD practitioners are not expected to work for free
An outdated provision in the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Explanatory Notes (GN.13.33) is making health professionals’ jobs much harder and deterring them from VAD practice – which in turn limits access for dying people and their families to high-quality VAD care. Under the current system, some doctors decide offering VAD services is just too hard. We need the next government to act fast to stop the workforce depleting and impacting patient care.
3. Include VAD in the federal definition of end-of-life care
Language matters. Leaving VAD out of federal definitions of end-of-life care amplifies and justifies the different treatment and stigma that dying people face when they seek VAD. The impact is also felt by families, carers and the professionals providing VAD care.
Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is now legal in every state and soon the ACT. It enables terminally ill adults to ask a doctor for help to end their life, provided they meet strict eligibility criteria.
It’s time for federal regulation and legislation to keep up to date with these reforms.