Tasmania’s lower house has rejected voluntary euthanasia by the narrowest of margins.
The private members bill, co-sponsored by Labor Premier Lara Giddings and Greens leader Nick McKim, was defeated 13-11 with Speaker Michael Polley effectively using his casting vote against it.
Debate in the 25-member House of Assembly had indicated a 12-12 result after all parties had granted a conscience vote on the contentious legislation.
With Greens deputy speaker Tim Morris – who supported it – in the chair and unable to cast a vote, it failed by two votes.
Tasmania would have become the first Australian state to allow assisted suicide had the bill passed its two houses, joining four European countries and four states in the United States (OR, WA, MT, VT).
