In a week focused on the budget, on Wednesday, Greens leader Cassy O’Connor and former Premier Lara Giddings will bring up their co-sponsored Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2016. 

It will mark the third time a similar bill has been presented to the Tasmanian Parliament, once in 2009 and again in 2013, however, it was defeated on both occasions. 

Also this week, Treasurer Peter Gutwein announced that $100 million would be added to the TT-Line Vessel Replacement Fund in Thursday’s budget. 

This included $20 million from the government and $80 million from TT-Line, bringing the total fund to $180 million.

Turning towards the debate, Ms Giddings said polls across Australia found about 80 per cent of the population wanted to see voluntary assisted dying laws.

“This legislation has been thoroughly consulted – it is based on the 2013 bill and I can show you the hundreds and hundreds of people who were consulted through that process,” she said.

“This is not an issue of church versus state, there are many people who hold faith across denominations in our community who want to see voluntary assisted dying.

“The bill we’re putting forward is a robust bill, a thoroughly-consulted bill, one with lots of protections in their for vulnerable people, so let’s see this happen, let’s stop seeing people suffering in this community.” 

Ms O’Connor said she expected it to be a “very moving and important” debate in the lower house. 

“It’s the third time that the Tasmania Parliament will have an opportunity to debate this very significant social reform,” she said.

Leader of Government Business Michael Ferguson said despite the government’s focus being on the budget this week, legislation would still be discussed. 

“There will also be important legislation debated particularly in the upper house, which will debate laws to impose mandatory sentences for assaults on frontline essential service workers,” Mr Ferguson said.

“All Liberal members have a conscience vote on the euthanasia bill.” 

The Legislative Council will also debate the controversial Forestry (Unlocking Production Forests) Bill in the upper house this week.