An attempt to introduce physician-assisted suicide into Victoria, Australia, has been defeated by the Victorian parliament. The bill was introduced by Colleen Hartland MP (Greens) but was defeated by 25 votes to 13. It will now pass to the Upper House committee for further consideration.
The Southern Cross Bioethics Institute produced an extensive briefing on euthanasia for SPUC some years ago, including a detailed analysis of the legal situation regarding euthanasia in Australia. Euthanasia was legal in the Northern Territory for a short time but the legislation was overturned, in part because of the objections of the Aboriginal people who make up 25% of the population of NT.
