The lobby group Dying With Dignity says it is thrilled the Tasmanian Government plans to look at legalising voluntary euthanasia.

Greens leader Nick McKim introduced a voluntary euthanasia private members bill last year but it failed to win support.

In her budget reply speech Deputy Premier Lara Giddings told parliament says would work closely with Mr McKim to reintroduce the proposal.

She says the proposed legislation needs to be simplified and she will look at other countries where voluntary euthanasia is legalised.

"These issues are ones that don't sit comfortably with all members of parliament but that doesn't mean that we should not be open about them," she said.

Dying With Dignity spokeswoman Margaret Sing says she's been talking to Ms Giddings and Mr McKim about the laws.

"It is in keeping with what the majority of the population wants."Every reputable opinion poll done for many years has shown that up to 80 per cent or more of the population support that option being available for people with the most profound suffering."

"The government is behaving very responsibly," she said.

Christian groups have questioned the timing of the Attorney-General's announcement.

The Australian Christian Lobby says it is surprised the issue has returned so soon after the private members bill was defeated last November.

The lobby's Nick Overton says mentioning it in a budget reply speech makes it seem that it has the Government's support.

"We're disappointed that it would come back on so soon, particularly when two major inquiries we've had in Tasmania, parliamentary inquiries into this issue in the last 10 years and both times it's been overwhelmingly voted down.

"The findings of that inquiry have been that it's just not safe to go down this path."

"[I'm a] bit surprised it's come on so soon. Probably also surprised this and other issues would be raised in a budget in reply speech," he said.

"It would seem to do it as such, even though I know she's mentioned she'd been working as a private member on this matter, it would seem to have the Government's endorsement."

Law reform

Ms Giddings used her budget reply speech to flag a series of other legislative changes, including the introduction of surrogacy laws, changes to sex industry laws and further work towards developing a Tasmanian charter of human rights.

The Liberals say the Government is putting human rights law development above the welfare of stuggling Tasmanians.

Liberal leader Will Hodgman says the Government's priority should be helping the thousands of Tasmanians who are doing it tough.

"The cost of living pressures are increasing, housing and hospital waiting lists are extending, these are the sorts of things I believe that Tasmanians want to see the Government focussing on and Lara Gidding will need to explain why her priorities lie in these areas," he said.

But welfare groups say a charter of human rights would help make Tasmania a more equitable and safe society.

TasCoss's Martin Gibson says it should include social, economic and cultural rights along with civil and political rights.

"So that included in a Tasmanian charter would be rights to education, rights to housing, rights to food, rights to work," he said.

"Tasmania has the poorest population in Australia and we think the soical and economic rights are of particular importance to a Tasmanian community."

Tasmania's gay community has welcomed moves for a human rights charter and surrogacy laws.

Rodney Croome from the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group says it's a positive step towards equality.

"We've seen over the last 10 years that in Tasmania our laws, our policies and our community attitiudes have moved towards a position where they're more tolerant, where they're more equal and where we live in a more inclusive Tasmania," he said.

"I think the announcement made about issues like a charter of rights and surrogacy takes us further in that direction."

[Source: ABC News, 23 June 2010]