Queensland has passed a law enabling assisted suicide, making it the fifth state in Australia to do so. It will force Catholic institutions to allow assisted suicide on their premises if a patient wishing for it can’t be moved elsewhere.

Members of the local parliament voted 61-30 for a ‘Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill’ that will enable people suffering a disease, illness or medical condition that is advanced, progressive and terminal to access voluntary-assisted suicide. In most countries where the measure has been introduced, numbers availing of it rise and the grounds expand.

The person must be expected to die within a year, they must have decision-making capacity, and proceed without coercion.

A lack of palliative care services available to people living in remote, far-flung Queensland was one of the reasons many MPs gave as they spoke in opposition to the laws.

Catholic Health Australia ran a concerted campaign to protect Catholic hospitals and aged care facilities that provide about 20 per cent of hospital and aged care beds in Queensland.