Anthony Albanese goes against his party on telehealth change: 'That's my position'

By SARAH BROOKES - SENIOR REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 06:16, 26 July 2026 | Updated: 06:19, 26 July 2026 Anthony Albanese has gone against Labor and revealed he does not personally support allowing euthanasia consultations via telehealth. While the Prime Minister supports voluntary euthanasia in principle, he revealed on Sunday he is 'yet to be convinced' Australians should be able to discuss the process with doctors over the phone or online. Speaking on ABC's Insiders, Albanese said he feared the change could weaken safeguards surrounding the system. 'I think it is important that people have the right to die… with dignity,' he said. 'But it's also important that protections be placed around it. 'Now, if someone has a heart attack or an acute health condition, they need a doctor. They can't do that over telehealth. 'I think someone ending their life is just as important. I think it should be face-to-face recognition and face-to-face engagement. My concern is … the potential for misuse but also the potential it has to undermine the system itself. 'That's my position. I respect the fact that there are different views on this.' Speaking on ABC's Insiders, Anthony Albanese (pictured) said he feared the change could weaken safeguards surrounding the VAD system Albanese's comments come after Labor delegates backed a commitment at the party's national conference to remove barriers to voluntary assisted dying, including expanding access through telehealth consultations. The proposal has been championed by advocates who argue the current ban disproportionately affects Australians living in rural and regional areas. Under existing laws, people cannot use telehealth for voluntary assisted dying consultations, with doctors facing fines of up to $300,000 if they breach the restriction. Despite the party's support for the change, Albanese stressed any move to amend the law would ultimately be a matter for government and parliament. 'Governments determine what governments do … what the conference does has put general direction of what they want, and it's clear that is a matter of conscience,' he said. Pressure is mounting on Labor to act, with Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young signalling she will swiftly introduce a private member's bill to overturn the telehealth ban. Independent MP Kate Chaney is also preparing to reintroduce her own legislation in the House of Representatives, arguing the change would give Labor its earliest opportunity to end what she described as a 'cruel anomaly'. The Curtin MP has emerged as a vocal advocate for reform, warning the current laws are forcing terminally ill Australians to endure unnecessary suffering. Albanese's comments come after Labor delegates backed a commitment at the party's national conference to remove barriers to voluntary assisted dying (stock image) 'I have heard heartbreaking stories of terminally ill people travelling long distances in agony to see a doctor in person, or both doctor and patient travelling for hours to have a consultation halfway in a carpark,' she said after tabling a petition in May backed by more than 13,000 Australians. Chaney said doctors providing voluntary assisted dying services were being forced to choose between offering the best possible care to their patients and risking prosecution. 'VAD practitioners are being forced to choose between compassionate and convenient care for their patients and the risk of being prosecuted,' she said. 'Tragically, the current laws also mean people simply can't access VAD, despite it being lawful.' Supporters of reform say the restriction disproportionately affects Australians in rural and remote communities, where access to specialist medical services is often limited. The push has also won backing from the nation's peak medical bodies, with the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners arguing telehealth can safely complement VAD services, particularly when patients are too unwell to travel or doctors cannot reach them in time.