The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2013 tabled by Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings (Labour) and Nick McKim (Greens) for debate in the Tasmanian House of Assembly (25 members) has been defeated by the narrowest of margins (13-11) in the Tasmanian Parliament. Melbourne Herald-Sun reporter David Beniuk reporter said: Debate in the 25-member House of Assembly had indicated a 12-12 result after all parties had granted a conscience vote on the contentious legislation.With Greens deputy speaker Tim Morris – who supported it – in the chair and unable to cast a vote, it failed by two votes.
The result was astonishing, in that all 9 Liberal members voted against the Bill (block vote), when one considers the results of a recent DWD Tasmanian poll that indicated that 74% of those who said they were Liberal voters agreed there should be a change in the law.
The Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings and Leader of the Tasmanian Greens, Nick McKim stated that if re-elected they will re-introduce an amended Bill in the next parliament.
Tasmania would have become the first Australian state to allow assisted suicide had the bill passed its two houses, joining four European countries and four states in the United States.