Labor Party debate on telehealth for voluntary assisted dying and conference outcomes
Consensus Summary
The Labor Party’s national conference in Adelaide, held last week and concluding on Saturday, updated its platform to allow a conscience vote on permitting telehealth consultations for voluntary assisted dying (VAD). Both sources confirm Prime Minister Anthony Albanese opposes the change, citing risks to safeguards, though he supports VAD itself. The federal law currently bans telehealth for VAD, with fines up to $300,000 for violations, and requires patients to make at least three requests and be assessed at least twice. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young and independent Kate Chaney plan private member’s bills to push for telehealth access, arguing rural Australians face unfair barriers. Albanese’s cabinet will decide whether to draft legislation, while advocates like Andrew Denton argue telehealth is safe and aligns with medical guidelines. The ABC also notes Albanese’s concerns about 12.5 per cent US tariffs on Australian exports and plans for data centre legislation by early 2027, while the Guardian highlights regional disparities in VAD access and the role of palliative care in using telehealth for end-of-life decisions.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Labor’s national conference in Adelaide (last week) updated the party platform to allow a conscience vote on telehealth for voluntary assisted dying (VAD) consultations
- Anthony Albanese stated on Sunday that the government might not progress laws to allow telehealth for VAD, citing concerns about safeguards
- Federal law currently bans telehealth for VAD consultations, with fines of up to $300,000 for breaches
- Labor’s platform change commits to removing federal barriers to telehealth for VAD while maintaining clinical safeguards
- Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young and independent Kate Chaney plan to introduce private member’s bills on telehealth for VAD
- Labor’s 50th national conference took place in Adelaide, with the conference wrapping up on Saturday
- Patients must make at least three requests and be assessed at least twice by medical professionals for VAD access
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Anthony Albanese said he was 'yet to be convinced' about telehealth for VAD, fearing it could 'undermine the system'
- Labor’s conference included a pledge to always allow a conscience vote on VAD enshrined in the party’s constitution
- Albanese mentioned 12.5 per cent US export tariffs on Australia and plans to raise concerns with President Donald Trump
- The government aims to produce an exposure draft of data centre legislation by the end of the year, with final legislation in early 2027
- Labor conference delegates endorsed a federation compact to double federal funding for local governments, costing $3.5 billion a year
- Albanese attended a dinner in Sydney last week hosted by Felix Lee, whose father is accused of tax-related offences
- The conference included debates on AI, workers' rights, gambling reforms, decarbonisation, and expanded Medicare dental coverage
- Kate Chaney said on Friday she would reintroduce her private member’s bill to end the telehealth ban for VAD, citing regional disparities
- Andrew Denton (Go Gentle) argued on Sunday that telehealth for VAD is safe and aligns with medical groups’ advice, including the Australian Medical Association
- Palliative care routinely uses telehealth for life-and-death decisions, described as 'particularly important' in end-of-life care
- Disparities between state and federal laws delay VAD approvals, especially for patients with rapidly declining health
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the conference changed the ALP platform 'last week,' while ABC specifies it was the '50th national conference' in Adelaide, wrapping up on Saturday
- The Guardian mentions Albanese’s concerns about telehealth 'undermining the system itself,' while ABC attributes the same concern to 'misuse or undermining the system in itself' (slightly different phrasing)
- The Guardian says Albanese’s cabinet will decide on drafting new legislation, while ABC states it would first need cabinet approval before being put to parliament (minor procedural difference)
Source Articles
Albanese at odds with Labor policy which now says telehealth should be allowed for euthanasia consultations
Campaigners say existing federal ban on phone or video calls for assisted dying consultations adversely affects people living in regional Australia Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Labor will come under pressure to allow Australians to access voluntary assisted dying through telehealth services, with the Greens and independent Kate Chaney to introduce legislation based on changes to Labor’s national platform. Last
Albanese personally opposed to Labor push on voluntary assisted dying
The prime minister says he is unconvinced Australians should be allowed to access voluntary assisted dying via telehealth, holding concerns over its "misuse".