Victorian Labor forced to rely on One Nation and others to pass voluntary assisted dying bill after factional split

The Victorian government will be forced to rely on a motley crew of MPs including One Nation and the Liberals to pass its voluntary assisted dying laws after a group of Labor MPs railed against the legislation. The development comes as the lower house on Wednesday continued to debate amendments to the state’s laws that would allow doctors to initiate conversations about voluntary assisted dying and expand the eligibility timeframe for all terminal illnesses to 12 months, with MPs from both Labor and the Coalition granted a conscience vote. Labor MPs from the Catholic-influenced SDA union sub-faction attempted to move several amendments to curtail the scope of the changes, after an earlier bid to prevent the bill from being read a second time to allow for further consultation failed. Sign up: AU Breaking News email That attempt – moved by Greenvale MP Iwan Walters – was defeated 66 votes to 17 but supported by Labor MPs Anthony Carbines, Natalie Suleyman, Anthony Cianflone, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Nathan Lambert and Daniela De Martino in the chamber on Tuesday night. Walters repeatedly referred to VAD as “assisted suicide” throughout debate, prompting a rebuke by his colleague and supporter of the reforms, Emma Vulin, who lives with motor neurone disease (MND), a progressive condition that gradually robs people of their ability to move, speak and breathe. Speaking through new text-to-speech technology on Tuesday, the Pakenham MP shared her experience living with MND and said she may one day choose to use the state’s VAD laws. Related: ‘I’m not done fighting’: diagnosed with MND, Victorian MP Emma Vulin still has a lot to achieve “I do not know how my journey with MND will end, but I do know this, the knowledge that I may have voluntary assisted dying as an option gives me strength,” she said. “It allows me to live with more peace, to focus on the moments that matter, and to spare my loved ones from witnessing my prolonged suffering that serves no purpose.” On Wednesday, the health minister, Mary-Anne Thomas, urged Walters to “reflect on the hurt that his words are causing to some in this chamber”. Despite internal opposition, the bill is expected to pass the lower house with the support of the majority of Labor MPs, the Greens, several Liberals – including the opposition leader, Brad Battin, shadow treasurer, Jess Wilson, and shadow attorney general, James Newbury – and all of the Nationals, with the exception of Peter Walsh. Labor sources, though, have expressed concern about its chances in the upper house. The Legislative Council has 15 Labor MPs but 21 votes are needed for legislation to pass. The sources, who requested anonymity to discuss internal matters, said they expected the three SDA-aligned MPs in the upper house – including the sub-faction’s leader, minister Lizzie Blandthorn – to vote against the bill. One source also said there was a possibility another MP aligned with the wider right faction would oppose the changes. But Guardian Australia has confirmed in this event, the government would be able to rely on votes from other parties to pass the bill. David Limbrick of the Libertarian party said he supported VAD as a “principle of bodily autonomy,” though he raised concerns about compelling doctors who do not support it to provide their patients with information. “On balance, though, I will support the bill,” Limbrick said. Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell from One Nation said she also supported the bill but would considered amendments. She said she would also be pushing the government to increase access to VAD in regional Victoria through the provision of more hospice services. “Regional Victorians and their families shouldn’t have to travel to Melbourne in their final days to access VAD,” Tyrrell said. Liberal MP Georgie Crozier has also confirmed she will vote in support of the bill, while a party source indicated Nick McGowan has expressed views that he was a “staunch believer in the individual” and their ability to exercise a “choice” on their end of life. These four votes, in addition of the support of the progressive crossbench – made up of the Animal Justice party MP, Georgie Purcell, two Legalise Cannabis MPs and four Greens – would secure the passage of the bill.