'Extreme suffering': Stories shared during debate on NSW voluntary assisted dying bill

The debate over the voluntary assisted dying bill has begun today in the NSW Parliament.

NSW is currently the only Australian state where voluntary assisted dying is illegal.

The NSW parliament is now debating whether to pass the bill to change that.

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The bill being debated sees a person being 18-years-old to be eligible, have the mental capacity to make the decision to end their life and be terminally ill with death expected within six months or 12 months for neurological conditions.

"Today is a milestone moment in our campaign for voluntary assisted dying law reform in NSW that brings a sense of relief for the thousands of volunteers who have fought so hard for so many years to make this happen," Dying with Dignity NSW President, Penny Hackett said.

"There are people with a terminal illness who are suffering right now, who want the option to die with dignity when it comes to the end of their life."

Stories were shared today of experiences in the NSW community of terminal illness.

Jo Haylen, Member for Summer Hill, shared the story of an Ashfield woman's mother and her mother's battle with a terminal brain tumour.

"My mother's last five days involved extreme suffering," Ms Haylen said, reading the story of the woman.

"Essentially slowly starving to death she was in so much pain, she decided to book into a motel room to take her own life."

Geoff Provest, Member for Tweed, spoke of his own family's experience of terminal illness.

"I only wish this facility was available when my father was ill," Mr Provest said.

"After suffering for some time, I watched my father pass away very very slowly and painfully in 1999.

"He had no quality of life, and he didn't want to be here."

Other members of parliament have announced their support for the bill today.

"Death is a reality, but a cruel and slow death can be done in a better way," Alex Greenwich, Member for Sydney who introduced the bill to parliament, said.

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NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said he will not support the bill.

"If we pass this bill, the legacy of this parliament will be to open a door that no one else can close," Mr Perrottet said.

"This bill also sends the wrong message to people who have lost hope whether they are terminally ill or not.

"This bill undermines that because its central but unspoken message is that our suffering means it's not worth going on."

Instead of assisted dying, the premier proposed better access to health services and pain relief.

He also said properly funded palliative care is an alternative.

"Adequate pain relief, better access, especially in regional NSW and care options that are close to home and to family," he said.

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A conscience vote will be held to decide on the bill.

This is the third time the parliament has voted on assisted dying.