Tasmania's Voluntary Assisted Dying Laws Under Review Amidst Rising Demand

Tasmania's voluntary assisted dying (VAD) laws are undergoing a statutory review three years after their implementation, as demand for the service increases.

Tasmania’s voluntary assisted dying (VAD) legislation is currently under review, three years after coming into effect, with an expert panel assessing its operation and identifying potential improvements. The review is a statutory requirement following the third anniversary of the End-of-Life Choices (Voluntary Assisted Dying) Act 2021, which commenced in October 2022.

The ABC reported today that the state’s VAD laws are being reviewed as demand for the service has increased. The Premier of Tasmania announced in February 2026 that an expert panel had been appointed to conduct the review. This panel comprises Professor Emerita the Honourable Kate Warner AC, Professor Ben White, and Professor Michael Ashby. Their work will establish the full scope of the review, ensuring the Act continues to meet its objectives and operates effectively.

The End-of-Life Choices (Voluntary Assisted Dying) Act 2021 was passed by the Tasmanian Parliament in March 2021, making Tasmania the third Australian state to legalise VAD. The legislation then underwent an 18-month implementation period before becoming operational on October 23, 2022.

As of June 30, 2025, official figures show that 418 formal First Requests to access voluntary assisted dying had been made in Tasmania, with a total of 198 individuals having died through the VAD process.

Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Bridget Archer, emphasised the importance of the statutory review, stating it will ensure the legislation is operating as intended and identify any opportunities for improvement [cite:TITLE: Tasmania’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Laws Under Review Amidst Rising Demand

The ABC reported today that the state’s VAD laws are being reviewed as demand for the service has increased. The Premier of Tasmania announced in February 2026 that an expert panel had been appointed to conduct the review [cite: 2]. This panel comprises Professor Emerita the Honourable Kate Warner AC, Professor Ben White, and Professor Michael Ashby [cite: 2]. Their work will establish the full scope of the review, ensuring the Act continues to meet its objectives and operates effectively [cite: 2].

The End-of-Life Choices (Voluntary Assisted Dying) Act 2021 was passed by the Tasmanian Parliament in March 2021, making Tasmania the third Australian state to legalise VAD [cite: 7, 8]. The legislation then underwent an 18-month implementation period before becoming operational on October 23, 2022 [cite: 7].