Australia’s euthanasia deaths rise as Victoria expands assisted dying law

Deaths under Victoria’s assisted dying law increased by nearly one-third over the past year, according to an annual report from the Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board. The report states that 512 people in the Australian state died after being administered a voluntary assisted dying substance in the year ending June 30. This figure represents a 31.6% increase from the 389 deaths recorded in 2024-2025 and accounts for 1.1% of all deaths in Victoria.

The board recorded 1,156 applications for the service, which is nearly 40% more than the previous year. Of the 512 deaths, 372 occurred after the person self-administered the substance, while 140 followed administration by a practitioner. These figures are nearly four times the number of deaths reported during the first full year after the law took effect in 2019.

The rise in deaths comes as Victoria prepares to expand access to the practice in 2027. Catholic leaders have warned that these changes could reduce safeguards for vulnerable patients. Nationally, the advocacy group Go Gentle Australia reported in its 2026 State of VAD report that more than 7,000 people have died after using a voluntary assisted dying substance across Australia, estimating that the practice now accounts for 2% to 3% of all deaths in the country.