South Australian Labor government ‘implores’ Albanese government to legislate telehealth for VAD care

The Malinauskas Labor government is challenging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s resistance to making telehealth available in voluntary assistant dying (VAD) care.

In a strong letter to the federal Attorney-General Michelle

Rowland, South Australia’s Health Minister Blair Boyer, and Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Kyam Maher pointed out that the July Labor national conference voted for removing the ban on telehealth’s use.

“We now implore the federal government to address this issue,” the minister wrote.

They said the federal government should “amend the Criminal Code to better reflect contemporary healthcare practice and to reduce unnecessary disparities between jurisdictions”.

The ministers suggested a “targeted amendment” to the code’s definition of “suicide” so it explicitly excluded conduct under VAD state and territory laws.

Albanese has made it clear he is not in favour of allowing telehealth to be used, regardless of the national conference decision. Rowland, speaking at the conference, indicated her concerns about changing the law.

The letter also had 19 other signatures of health professionals and advocates, including a number of VAD practitioners.

In the letter, dated July 30, the ministers said the provision in the Criminal Code “is having a disproportionate impact on people living in regional and remote communities”.

This restriction creates a barrier in equitable access to lawful healthcare and is becoming increasingly inconsistent with contemporary models of healthcare delivery.

This is particularly true where telehealth plays an essential role in improving access for patients who are unable to attend appointments in person.

The ministers wrote: “We trust the Federal Government will prioritise this issue and take immediate action to address this barrier and we welcome engagement with you to support this work”.

A spokesperson for Boyer said no reply had been received as yet.

The position on telehealth has been supported by the South Australian cabinet.

Greens South Australian Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and teal independent Kate Chaney both have bills before parliament to allow telehealth in VAD care.

Hanson Young said in a statement on Tuesday: “The Prime Minister must not let his personal opinion to compassionate end-of-life healthcare stand in the way of a conscience vote”.

Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.