Richard Morecroft's death this week at the age of 70 has prompted questions from fans about the legality of voluntary assisted dying in Australia.
The former ABC news anchor and SBS television host died on Tuesday on the south coast of New South Wales following a terminal cancer diagnosis.
Morecroft's family announced the news in a post shared on his Instagram page on Tuesday evening, confirming he ended his life at a time of his choosing.
"Sadly, our beloved Richard died today, at a time of his choosing, on the south coast of NSW," the post read.
"He was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and was grateful to go peacefully, with his partner of 36 years, Alison Mackay, beside him."
The family statement added: "We are devastated to lose such a warm, generous and caring human and hope that all those who knew him, if only through their TV screens, will remember him fondly."
The post ended with the tribute: "Vale Richard Morecroft 20/01/56 - 06/10/26".
The news of his passing was met with confusion among some fans online who were unsure about the legality of his decision to end his own life.
"Is assisted dying legal in Australia?" asked one person in the comments section online, while another questioned, "Is this legal?"
Other commenters were unsure whether euthanasia was the correct term for the procedure.
Assisted dying laws in Australia
In New South Wales, where Morecroft lived, the process of legally ending one's own life is known as Voluntary Assisted Dying, or VAD.
The procedure has been available as a legal end-of-life option in the state since November 2023 under the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2022.
The legislation allows an eligible person with an advanced terminal illness to receive medical assistance to end their life.
This is done by the administration of prescribed medication by a doctor or nurse, or through self-administered medication taken by the ill person themselves.
In order to access the VAD scheme, several criteria must be met. This includes suffering from an advanced, progressive disease or medical condition, and receiving a formal assessment from two independent medical practitioners.
Voluntary assisted dying is legal across most states in Australia. The Northern Territory became the last jurisdiction to pass it into law in August this year, with the scheme expected to start rolling out there in 2028.
Tributes for ABC legend
Following his death, former colleagues have shared tributes highlighting Morecroft's life away from the television screen.
Lily Serna, who co-starred with Morecroft on the SBS game show Letters and Numbers, paid tribute to him on Wednesday.
Serna shared a number of unseen images documenting the media legend's more private side, describing him as a rare and wonderful man.
"I was lucky enough to land my first TV gig with Richard and he showed me the ropes with such grace and patience," Serna wrote in a post on Instagram.
"He was a TV veteran who was humble, kind and so generous with his time and knowledge, loved by cast and crew alike."
Serna wrote that there was so much more to Morecroft than the news anchor people knew him as.
"He was fun, adventurous, quirky and enthusiastic. He was an artist and photographer, always finding patterns in nature, and an eco warrior with a deep love for animals and the natural world," she explained.
"I'll treasure our conversations about the meaning of art and his patience with my maths brain trying to make sense of it all. I'll treasure our friendship always."
A long television career
Born in Leicestershire, England, Morecroft moved to Adelaide as a child and went on to forge a career as one of Australia's most respected television journalists.
After a stint in radio, he joined the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in the 1980s. He made his mark as the regular anchor for ABC News NSW, a role he kept for almost 20 years.
Between 2010 and 2012, Morecroft hosted the game show Letters and Numbers on the Special Broadcasting Service television network.
He was so recognisable as a steadfast news anchor that he made cameo appearances as himself in a series of television shows and movies, including Muriel's Wedding, Lantana and Police Rescue.
Morecroft also made a mark as an author, publishing his memoir, 20 Years from the Waist Up: Tales of a TV News Anchor, in 2002.
He additionally authored a number of children's titles, which were created in collaboration with his partner, Alison.
In his later years, Morecroft became closely associated with environmental issues. He served as a trustee of the World Wide Fund for Nature and a patron of wildlife rescue organisation WIRES.
He also worked with the Taronga Foundation and the Zoological Parks Board of New South Wales.
