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Government estimates 300 Victorians will seek to die every year

The mental toll of euthanising what are often healthy animals weighs heavy on veterinarians. <i>Photo: Getty</i>

The mental toll of euthanising what are often healthy animals weighs heavy on veterinarians. Photo: Getty Photo: Getty

More than 300 people a year will try to access Victoria’s voluntary assisted-dying scheme, should it become law, according to the state government.

“The estimated 328 per year is based upon what is (the) anticipated (number of) people to seek access to the scheme, seek to be assessed whether they are eligible,” Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings told the upper house as negotiations continued to try and pass the legislation.

“Of those who seek access to the scheme, the number who are likely to be eligible will be less than that because of the strict nature of the assessment criteria.”

The figure is based on a similar scheme operating in Oregon, in the United States, where it’s expected about 150 people per year would be accepted into the scheme.

Mr Jennings also gave a breakdown of the $62 million in extra palliative care funding announced on Tuesday, including the $19 million in benefits for the 2017-18 financial year.

Home-based palliative care in rural and regional Victoria will get $3.68 million. The statewide 24-hour phone advice line will get $1.25 million. Palliative care consultancy services in country areas will get $3.9 million and end-of-life care support grants will get a one-off boost of $10 million.

At the resumption of debate on Thursday, the Andrews Labor government proposed another four changes to its bill, seeking the necessary support for the controversial laws.

The amendments follow a raft of changes on Tuesday and target concerns raised by Liberal MP Simon Ramsay, who is yet to commit to a position, but whose vote is vital.

They address the definitions of mental illness and psychiatrist.

Mr Ramsay said he would not settle on a position until Friday when the bill’s examination by the upper house is due to be complete.

“In principle I support the bill, so my view is I’ll take a position tomorrow once we’ve had a bulk of the committee stage,” he told reporters.

The bill is being closely scrutinised by the Legislative Council, where support sits at 20 out of 40, without Mr Ramsay’s vote.

Victorian government has proposed another four changes to its assisted-dying bill in its continued fight secure support for the controversial laws.

The amendments, which follow a raft of changes on Tuesday, were moved by leader of the government in the upper house, Gavin Jennings, as debate on the bill resumed on Thursday.

-AAP

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