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

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’. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/Reuters View image in fullscreen 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’. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/Reuters 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 Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Labor will come under pressure to implement changes to its national policy platform and allow Australians to access voluntary assisted dying through telehealth services, with the Greens and independent Kate Chaney to introduce legislation. Last week’s national conference in Adelaide changed the ALP platform and committed Labor to overturn a Howard-era law banning people from having medical appointments regarding euthanasia via telehealth services. New language added to the platform suggests Labor MPs would have a conscience vote on the issue, but the prime minister, Anthony Albanese , said on Sunday the government might not progress laws through parliament. The party’s platform is a set of policy principles but changes are not always immediately reflected in government legislation. Ed Husic-led push for Labor to recognise Gaza genocide fails, preventing public stoush Read more Albanese said while he supported assisted dying, also known as voluntary euthanasia, he believed the telehealth change risked undermining proper medical safeguards. “It is important that people have the right to die … with dignity,” he told ABC TV. “But it’s also important that protections are placed around it. Now, if someone has a heart attack or an acute health condition, they need a doctor. They can’t do that over telehealth. “I think someone ending their life is just as important. I think it should be face-to-face recognition and face-to-face engagement. My concern is … the potential for misuse but also the potential it has to undermine the system itself.” Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email Asked if the federal government would move to change the law to reflect the updated national platform, Albanese said the cabinet would decide on whether new legislation would be drafted, in consultation with MPs. “Governments determine what governments do around our cabinet table. What the conference does is put the general direction of what they want, and it’s clear that it’s a matter of conscience,” he said. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young on Sunday indicated she would quickly move ahead with a private member’s bill on the issue, an apparent attempt to for