On 27 February 2001 the Green MLC Ian Cohen moved a notice of motion to
introduce a private members Bill to legalise voluntary euthanasia. The purpose
of this paper is to update the legal situation, review recent developments in
the euthanasia debate, and to present an overview of the issues involved. Where
appropriate, particularly in relation to the arguments for and against active
voluntary euthanasia, the paper draws upon the previous publications of the
Parliamentary Library – Background Paper No 3/1995 and Briefing Paper No
4/1996.
