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🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Disasters & Emergencies

Australians missing in Nepal floods rises to 39; voluntary assisted dying now legal nationwide

From The Guardian · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News From a news agency Ongoing story
  • The number of Australians missing in Nepal floods has increased to 39, with the government mobilizing consular and humanitarian support.
  • Voluntary assisted dying laws have been passed in Australia's Northern Territory after a debate over a clause restricting doctors from initiating end-of-life conversations.
  • The Northern Territory's VAD laws require individuals to have 12 months or less to live to access the procedure.

The number of Australians unaccounted for in the devastating Nepal floods has climbed to 39, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong. The Australian government is rapidly deploying resources, including a $5 million aid package and an initial team of three humanitarian response specialists, to assist in the affected regions along the Nepal-China border.

We understand at least 39 Australians are among those reported missing. Australian officials are working urgently to confirm their welfare and provide assistance to those affected.

— Penny WongForeign Affairs Minister Penny Wong confirming the number of Australians missing in Nepal.

Minister Wong acknowledged the immense challenges ahead due to the disaster's scale and the remote location of the affected areas. "The extraordinary scale of this disaster and the remoteness of the affected region mean immense challenges lie ahead for the response and recovery," she stated, emphasizing the government's urgent efforts to confirm the welfare of those missing and provide necessary assistance.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, voluntary assisted dying (VAD) laws have been enacted nationwide in Australia following their passage in the Northern Territory parliament. The bill, which passed on a conscience vote, includes a controversial gag clause that prevents doctors from initiating discussions about end-of-life options with patients. This clause sparked debate, with some lawmakers arguing it hinders compassionate care for terminally ill patients, particularly those in aged-care facilities.

The extraordinary scale of this disaster and the remoteness of the affected region mean immense challenges lie ahead for the response and recovery.

— Penny WongForeign Affairs Minister Penny Wong on the challenges of the Nepal flood response.

The Northern Territory was the first Australian jurisdiction to legalize voluntary euthanasia in 1995, but federal legislation overturned the laws in 1997. The federal veto was lifted in 2022, restoring the territory's autonomy. The new VAD laws stipulate that only individuals with a prognosis of 12 months or less to live will be eligible for the procedure.

This cannot be a bill for the rights of the terminally ill if we restrict conversations in these premises.

— Tanzil RahmanGovernment backbencher Tanzil Rahman speaking against the gag clause in the Northern Territory's voluntary assisted dying bill.
About this summary

Originally published by The Guardian in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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