After years of passionate debate, months of political processes and nearly a hundred amendments, voluntary assisted dying was made legal in NSW to the elation of local advocates.
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On Thursday, the voluntary assisted dying bill passed the lower house of parliament, after it voted to accept amendments from the upper house - amendments the upper house spent around ten hours debating over two days.
All members of parliament were given a conscience vote on the matter, with a final vote of support 23 to 15 given in the upper house.
The vote makes NSW the final state to introduce assisted dying laws, after the matter was first debated in state parliament twenty years ago.
Advocate Janet Cohen, from NSW's North Coast, and NSW Riverina-based advocate Geoff Burch both agreed it was a "a huge relief".
Ms Cohen said she watched the debate in the upper house until 9pm on Wednesday night before continuing watching the debate on Thursday morning.
"It's a huge relief and it's great news for anyone with a terminal illness and their families to have that reassurance that they do have an option if their pain and suffering becomes too great," she said.
"They now have a choice to die with dignity."
Ms Cohen, of Camden Haven, was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2015 and has been rallying ever since to gain the freedom to choose how her life ends.
"It's legislated that it's going to take 18 months for the scheme to be accessible and frankly it does take that long for all the processes to be put in place to ensure the scheme can operate as well as it can. And also for doctors to be trained," she said.
"I do hope that I'm going to still be around to be able to access the scheme in my own state."
Wagga-based voluntary assisted dying advocate and Dying with Dignity NSW member Mr Burch said it was a huge relief to see the "just, empathetic" bill pass after such a long-running campaign.
"When [the debate is] finally concluded it's just elation for everyone that's fought so hard," he said.
Mr Burch, whose wife Sue passed away in May last year after a years-long battle with cancer, said the bill is all about providing people with personal choice.
"You can now decide that I don't want my death to be a drawn out, painful process," he said.
"When we're talking about people who don't have a choice about life, it's been taken away from them ... now they have the choice to have some control over that. That's a big relief."
Mr Burch said although it's unfortunate there is an 18-month implementation period for the law, but is grateful "we know now there's a deadline".
Wagga MLC Wes Fang chaired an inquiry into the bill and presided over a number of debates throughout the process, and said it was a "privilege" to be part of passing a bill that "will make a real difference in people's lives across NSW".
"I think the bill was robust [and] I think the safeguards were appropriate," he said.
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The voluntary assisted dying bill was introduced by independent MP Alex Greenwich last year along with 28 co-sponsors after a series of previous bills were defeated.
The marathon debate in the upper house saw 92 late amendments brought forward on Wednesday, with debate continuing until midnight. Mr Fang said he and others had hoped the debate would wrap up that night, but it was "unfortunately" was pushed into Thursday morning after a Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP objected to continuing.
The majority of amendments were voted down, including a push to allow aged care and residential homes to block voluntary assisted dying from taking place in their facilities. The bill eventually passed the upper house just after 12.30pm on Thursday and went back to the lower house for its final approval just before 1pm.
The bill allows adults with a terminal diagnosis and up to six months to live to voluntarily end their life with assistance, based on the approval of two independent doctors.
Ms Cohen said although yesterday was a celebration for many, it is also a day to remember those who aren't here to see the historic bill pass.
"Today is tinged with sadness too because unfortunately a lot of people have died in pain and suffering while waiting for the bill to pass," she said.
"The bill passing is a great reason for celebration, but we mustn't forget all those people who fought so hard and who are no longer with us."
Ms Cohen has been campaigning for the right to choose how how her life ends for seven years.
"The bill passing reminds me of the power of a grassroots campaign and an affirmation of people power and the democratic process.
"Compassion and the facts won the day, along with community support."
*If you are thinking about suicide or experiencing emotional distress, help is available.