On Wednesday, the House continued consideration in committee of the whole of a large number of proposed amendments to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill. Although this took up most of the sitting day, a private members’ bill was also introduced, and a number of general motions and orders for papers agreed to.
Let’s look at how the day unfolded…
Animal Research Amendment (Right to Release) Bill 2022
The Animal Research Amendment (Right to Release) Bill 2022 seeks to insert a new clause into the Animal Research Act 1985 to give dogs and cats used in animal experimentation the right to be released, and to increase the number of animals rehomed after experimentation in NSW. The bill has the support of several rescue organisations.
Ms Hurst (Animal Justice Party) introduced the bill and made her second reading speech on Wednesday. You can read Ms Hurst’s full second reading speech in Hansard.
According to standing order, debate on the bill was then adjourned for five calendar days.
Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021
With the second reading of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021 having been agreed to last week, debate continued on Wednesday when the House resolved into committee of the whole to consider proposed amendments to the bill. You can read how the bill progressed to this stage in last week’s blog.
Numerous amendments were considered by the House – we’ve grouped them according to theme and outcome below, with links to the original if you’d like to see the detail:
- Decision making (moved by Mr Donnelly, negatived on division: Ayes 14 / Noes 23)
- Health care worker not to initiate the discussion (moved by Mr Donnelly, negatived on division: Ayes 12 / Noes 24 )
- Palliative care plan (moved by Mr Borsak, negatived on division: Ayes 16 / Noes 20)
- Loss of decision making may be temporary (moved by Minister Mitchell, agreed to on the voices)
- Incorrect cross-reference (moved by Minister Mitchell, agreed to on the voices)
- Referral to psychiatrist and psychologist (moved by Mr Donnelly, negatived on division: Ayes: 14 / Noes: 23)
- Diagnosis by specialist (moved by Mr Donnelly, negatived on division: Ayes 13 / Noes 23)
- High degree of certainty (moved by Mr Donnelly, negatived on division: Ayes 12 / Noes 23)
- Eligibility criteria – suffering (moved by Mr Donnelly, negatived on division: Ayes 12 / Noes 22)
- Palliative care – consult (moved by Mr Donnelly, negatived – on division: Ayes 12 / Noes 22)
- Person not acting at the suggestion of others (moved by Mr Donnelly, negatived on division: Ayes 12 / Noes 23)
- Eligibility criteria – disability and mental health impairment (moved by Mr Donnelly, negatived on division: Ayes 12 / Noes 23)
- Cooling off period (moved by Mr Donnelly, negatived on division: Ayes 12 / Noes 23)
- Certification/information of record keeping (moved by Revd Mr Nile, negatived on the voices)
- Non-participation of residential facilities and health care establishments (moved by Mr Donnelly, negatived on division: Ayes 13 / Noes 23)
- Oversight of Act by parliamentary committee (moved by Mr Donnelly, negatived on the voices)
- Review of Act (regional access to high quality care/palliative care) (moved by Mr Donnelly, agreed to on the voices)
- Self administration (moved by Revd Mr Nile, negatived on the voices)
- Statistical information (moved by Mr Searle, agreed to on the voices).
Consideration of the bill in committee of the whole was interrupted when the House adjourned at midnight. Check out our next blog published for a summary of what happened next..
List of General Motions and Orders for Papers
ORDERS FOR PAPERS
The following orders for papers were agreed to:
- Rail negotiations (Mr Mookhey, Labor) – Paragraph A due 23 May 2022, remainder of resolution 25 May
- Mascot Towers investigations (Mrs Houssos, Labor) – due 8 June 2022
- Amendment to order for papers – Social welfare program funding for Barwon electorate towns (Mr Banasiak, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers) – due 22 June 2022.
GENERAL MOTIONS
The following general motions were agreed to:
- Tribute to Thelma McCarthy (Mr Primrose, Labor)
- International Anti-Street Harassment Week (Ms Boyd, The Greens)
- Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day (Mr D’Adam, Labor)
- HMAS Maitland (Mr Martin, Liberals)
- Hunter Safety Awards (Mr Martin, Liberals).
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