In July 2024 Dying with Dignity ACT co-funded a survey by the international polling company YOUGOV, asking Canberrans several questions relating to Voluntary Assisted Dying.
In particular we asked about whether eligibility for VAD should be widened to allow people to make an advance directive for VAD, and to cater for people suffering from long-term illnesses, such as Motor Neurone Disease, but who were not close to death.
The survey shows a high level of support (77%) for VAD. Support was strong across all political persuasions and religions.
A similar percentage of people (77%) said that people should be allowed to include their wishes about voluntary assisted dying in some form of Advance Care Plan.
The survey also shows that a large majority of respondents (81%) supported extension of VAD eligibility for persons with intolerable suffering and diminishing capacities, with a condition that will cause death, but who are not close to death. Interestingly there was unexpectedly strong support for this from Catholics (77%) and from Liberal voters (78%).
53% of respondents felt the ACT Government should widen VAD eligibility in the next term of government (ie starting November 2024), while 24% felt it should be done as part of the review scheduled for 3 years from VAD implementation (ie about 2030).
The full report is available here