澳大利亚工党全国会议通过了支持在自愿辅助死亡(VAD)护理中使用远程医疗的修正案，成为会议现场唯一被竞争的议题。[1]然而，总理阿尔巴内塞随后表示个人反对，称虽然他是自愿安乐死的支持者，但认为应该有医生面对面参与，不能通过远程医疗完成。[1]工党会议决议同时声明，任何VAD决议"对党内任何成员都不具约束力"。[1]
跨党派议员凯特·钱尼计划在议会下周二复会时寻求暂停议事规则，提交私人议案要求修改刑法删除对远程医疗的禁令。[1]这一行动面临政府可能的阻挠——政府可能通过拒绝暂停议事规则来阻止该法案的讨论。[1]2023年联邦法院的判决曾裁定VAD属于自杀定义，因此远程医疗咨询违反法律。[1]
Australia's Labor Party national conference has endorsed a proposal to permit telehealth consultations in voluntary assisted dying (VAD) care, marking the only contested issue debated at the gathering [1]. However, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has subsequently expressed personal opposition to the measure, stating he supports VAD in principle but believes doctors must conduct face-to-face assessments rather than consultations conducted remotely [1].
The political tension over this issue is set to intensify as crossbench MP Kate Chaney plans to introduce a private member's bill seeking to amend criminal law to remove the prohibition on telehealth for VAD when parliament resumes [1]. The government may attempt to block discussion of the bill by refusing to suspend standing orders [1]. A 2023 Federal Court ruling determined that VAD falls within the definition of suicide, rendering telehealth consultations unlawful under current legislation [1].
The Labor conference resolution specified that any VAD decision "is not binding on any member of the party," providing political cover for divergent positions among parliamentarians [1]. Health Minister Mark Butler was reported to have exercised influence over the discussion of this issue at the Labor national conference [1].
