Western Australia is a study in contrasts. We were one of the first States to legislate voluntary assisted dying, and yet we remain the last to modernise our surrogacy laws.

One area saw deep community debate, cross-party leadership and reform; the other is only now gathering momentum after years of delay.

At first glance, the two issues appear to have little in common. One is about life’s ending, the other its beginning.

But beneath the surface, they both circle the same question: how much agency should individuals have over the most intimate parts of their lives? And just as importantly, how much trust should society and government place in that agency?

For decades, both topics were spoken about in whispers.

Assisted dying was taboo: too painful, too morally loaded to name aloud. Su

See Full Page