Call to Action: Inquiry into NSW VAD Bill Provisions

The NSW Legislative Council's Standing Committee on Law and Justice is currently conducting an inquiry into the provisions of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021.

The Bill seeks to:

• Enable eligible persons with a terminal illness to access voluntary assisted dying;
• Establish a procedure for, and regulate access to, voluntary assisted dying; and
• Establish the Voluntary Assisted Dying Board to oversee matters relating to voluntary assisted dying.

The committee's report is intended to inform the Upper House's consideration of the bill. Committee hearings will be held during December 2021 and the committee will make its report by the first parliamentary sitting day in 2022.

Visit the committee's inquiry website here.

Individuals who are NSW residents are invited to submit their comments on the bill via the committee's online questionnaire.

Written submissions are also accepted. There is a fact sheet on making Upper House committee submissions here. Proforma submissions will not be accepted.

The closing date for submissions is 22 November 2021.

There is an excellent backgrounder on the issue, prepared by the NSW Parliamentary Research Service. The NSL also recently published a summary and some FAQs.

If you live in NSW, please take the time to make a submission and to encourage others to do so, too.