Our Summer 2019 Newsletter aims to bring everyone up-to-date with the latest developments from across Australia and around the world.

We held back publication of this newsletter so we could include the exciting news from Western Australia. On Tuesday 10 December the WA Parliament passed their Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) legislation making it the second Australian state after Victorian to offer this compassionate end-of-life choice.

The Victorian VAD law has been operating for 6 months now and the first person to access the law was reported in July 2019. Kerry Robertson’s death was exactly what she had wished for, quick and peaceful, with her loved ones at her side. Her daughters said her death was “perfect and that she “left this world with courage and grace.”

There is also great news from New Zealand where the End of Life Choice Bill passed in November. It will now be put to a referendum for final approval as part of the general election in 2020.

The Voluntary Euthanasia Party in NSW has been transformed into the Reason Party NSW, a move that will enable the VEP to pursue its goals more effectively and professionally. If NSW has not passed assisted dying legislation before the next state election in March 2023, the new Reason Party NSW will continue the work of the Voluntary Euthanasia Party and is committed to making Voluntary Assisted Dying a key election issue.

Dying with Dignity NSW started its Community Advocacy Project in October. Nineteen people enrolled for the one-day training course, designed to turn eager community members into active campaigners.

This newsletter also includes a moving personal story and our regular reports from our branches on the Mid North Coast and the Central Coast as well as from the Christians Supporting Choice for Voluntary Assisted Dying. Click to download –