Anthony Albanese personally opposed to Labor's push on telehealth voluntary assisted dying
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed personal opposition to a Labor party policy proposal that would allow telehealth consultations for voluntary assisted dying. While the party has adopted the policy, Albanese fears that remote consultations could lead to misuse and undermine the integrity of the system.
Why it matters
This highlights a significant internal policy tension within the Australian government regarding the intersection of digital healthcare and sensitive end-of-life legislation.
Anthony Albanese has weighed in on the ALP conference debate around access to voluntary assisted dying via telehealth. ( ABC News: Matt Roberts )
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has distanced himself from Labor's newly adopted policy of a conscience vote on voluntary assisted dying (VAD) telehealth consultations.
He has also defended Labor's tightly managed national conference as evidence of a more united party.
Any move to lift the federal ban on discussing VAD via video or phone would first need to be approved by cabinet before being put to parliament.
Link copied Share Share article A Labor push to allow Australians to access voluntary assisted dying through telehealth does not have the personal support of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who fears it would undermine the system.
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