Advocates for voluntary assisted dying are urging the Queensland government to push ahead with a parliamentary inquiry into the measure, but it remains officially on the backburner.
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A forum on the issue was held at state parliament on Monday, hearing from euthanasia advocates calling on the government to emulate Victoria's example.
Victoria went through a lengthy inquiry process before successfully last year passing laws allowing voluntary euthanasia under certain circumstances.
Former Northern Territory first minister Marshall Perron spoke at the forum, and told AAP he believed the work done by Victoria meant Queensland could speed up the process.
"All the experience is available to Queensland now without the huge expense and, most importantly, the time," he said.
Mr Perron passed euthanasia laws when he headed the Territory government in the 1990s, however they were overturned by the federal government.
The time factor was a common thread for speakers at the forum, with almost all pointing out that the longer it took for laws to be enacted, the more Queenslanders would die in painful ways without the option of ending their own lives.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told parliament last week her government's priority was reform of abortion laws, and she reiterated on Monday that while she was open to voluntary assisted dying reform, it would have to wait.
"Victoria has just passed legislation, I understand that law comes into affect next year," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"I would want to look very closely at the implementation of those laws."
Speaking at the forum, Labor MP Aaron Harper, who chairs the Parliamentary Health Committee, appeared more positive about the chances of a voluntary assisted dying bill being considered by parliament in the near future.
Mr Harper said he had asked for a meeting with the premier to discuss the issue, and indicated his committee could soon consider it.
Outside the forum, Cherish Life spokesperson Julie Borger told AAP the law changes would be "too dangerous."
"I don't think anyone can make judgement about the Victorian laws because they haven't been enacted," Ms Borger said.
"And in those countries where they have been enacted there may have been good safeguards at the time but that slippery slope does come into play."
Euthanasia advocate and cancer sufferer Tanya Battel said time was running out for her, after last week receiving notice her cancer had become terminal.
"For me it's a fundamental human right, it's a choice we should have," Ms Battel told reporters.
"You just keep thinking 'I'm running out of time'."
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Australian Associated Press
