The platform of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) has undergone significant changes at the recent national conference. The newly adopted platform explicitly commits the party to overturning the Howard-era laws that currently prohibit people from accessing end-of-life medical services via telemedicine. This decision represents a significant shift in the stance of the leading opposition party.
The Greens and independent MP Kate Chaney have indicated they will introduce legislation based on these changes to the Labor platform. The aim of the new legislation is to enable Australians to access voluntary assisted dying through telemedicine services. This would remove the current federal ban on using phone or video calls for consultations on assisted dying, which could significantly expand the availability of this service.
Advocates for the right to a dignified death highlight that the existing federal ban on phone or video calls for assisted dying consultations has negative consequences, particularly for people living in regional Australia. For residents of remote areas, travelling for a face-to-face meeting with a doctor presents a major barrier, and it is considered that telemedicine could alleviate this inequality in access to healthcare.
Despite the change in the Labor platform, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese maintains his position that end-of-life consultations must be conducted in person. His stance stands in contrast to the current Labor policy which allows telemedicine for such consultations. These divergences point to internal tensions within the governing party regarding the ethical and practical aspects of end-of-life regulation.
