August 2026 - The Federal government has blocked a crossbench attempt to allow telehealth to be used in voluntary assisted dying care – despite strong support for the measure at last month’s Labor national conference.
Shortly after parliament resumed following its winter break, Western Australian Federal MP Kate Chaney moved to bring on her private member’s bill for debate and a vote. This would amend the criminal law so telehealth consultations on VAD would no longer be regarded as providing advice on suicide, which breaches the current Federal law.
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Changes are supported by the Australian Medical Association, the Law Council, VAD regulatory bodies, 20 health organisations, and state attorneys-general and health ministers. She outlined individual instances where the availability of telehealth could have alleviated suffering.
Seconding Chaney’s move another teal, Monique Ryan, a medical doctor, said that “There is no good reason for delay.”
The ALP national conference said Labor would remove the bar on telehealth “as part of lawful access to voluntary assisted dying […] while maintaining appropriate clinical safeguards”.
The conference said there should be a conscience vote on VAD issues. But the government does not give its MPs free votes on procedural issues, so all Labor members were bound to vote against the Chaney move.
While Labor conference decisions are formally binding, details of implementation and timing are up to the parliamentary party, so in practice they can be easily dodged.
The government and opposition combined to quash the Chaney move in a vote 74-12.
The battle over telehealth will now turn to the Senate where Greens Sarah Hanson-Young will now introduce a private senator’s bill.
Stay tuned
Queensland Health VAD reports
During the six months from 1 January to 30 June 2023, 245 Queenslanders died following the administration of the voluntary assisted dying substance.
From 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, 793 Queenslanders died following the administration of the voluntary assisted dying substance.
From 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025, 1,072 Queenslanders died following administration of the voluntary assisted dying substance.
Queenslanders will be invited to lodge a submission about the current VAD legislation and request changes.
Item 154 on page 102 of The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 says:
- The Minister must review the effectiveness of this Act as soon as practicable after the end of 3 years after the commencement.
- The review must include a review of the eligibility criteria.
- As soon as practicable after finishing the review, the Minister must table a report about its outcome in the Legislative Assembly