[3] On 20 September 2017, the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2017 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly of the Victorian Parliament by the Andrews Labor Government.
The bill is modelled on the recommendations of an expert panel chaired by former Australian Medical Association president Professor Brian Owler.
The proposed legislation was said by proponents to be the most conservative in the world; it contains 68 safeguards including measures designed to protect vulnerable people from coercion and abuse, as well as a Review Board to promote compliance.
[13] On 22 November 2017, the bill in its amended form passed the council by 22 votes to 18, after a marathon sitting lasting more than 28 hours.
"[17]Lorraine Baker, the Victorian President of the Australian Medical Association, said that the passing of the legislation marked a "significant shift" in medical practice in Victoria, but the conscientious objection provisions contained in the legislation would ensure that doctors would not be forced into taking part in voluntary assisted dying.
[18] The outcome of this parliamentary vote will cause anguish for some members of our profession, as well as the public...(doctors should not be involved in) interventions that have as their primary intention the ending of a person's lifeEuthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke called the law "beg and grovel legislation" because people will only be able to access it as a privilege granted in extremis rather than as a right to be accessed at a time nominated by the patient.
Robertson applied for the permit on the first day the act came into force, 19 June 2019, citing "loss of joy" as her reason.