Labor under pressure to allow telehealth access for euthanasia but PM says ‘it should be face-to-face’

The Australian Labor Party is facing internal pressure to allow telehealth access for voluntary assisted dying, despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's insistence that such consultations remain face-to-face. While the party platform supports removing barriers, the government has not committed to legislative action.
Why it matters
This reflects a tension between progressive policy goals and the government's cautious approach to sensitive medical legislation.
Anthony Albanese at last week’s ALP national conference. Labor’s updated platform says the party will ‘remove barriers that exist in federal law to the provision of end-of-life care’. Anthony Albanese at last week’s ALP national conference. Labor’s updated platform says the party will ‘remove barriers that exist in federal law to the provision of end-of-life care’. Labor party Labor under pressure to allow telehealth access for euthanasia but PM says ‘it should be face-to-face’ Campaigners say existing federal ban on phone or video calls for assisted dying consultations adversely affects people living in regional Australia
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