Euthanasia debate to be reignited in parliament

AUSTRALIAN Greens MP Adam Bandt will use question time in parliament next week as an attempt to reignite the voluntary euthanasia debate.

"The old parties have vacated the political battlefield of ideas, so they shy away from advancing issues like dying with dignity... despite having popular support to do so," said Mr Bandt.

The Melbourne MP said he was a longstanding supporter of voluntary euthanasia.

If Australia could not have national legislation the Greens would continue to work to achieve the change through state and territory parliaments, he said.

The push to reignite the debate in federal parliament follows a recent three year prison sentence handed down to Queensland man Merin Nielsen who was found guilty of assisting the suicide of 76-year-old Frank Ward.

Mr Bandt, who is set to ask his question on Wednesday, said question time itself needed to be overhauled, despite recent changes by Speaker Peter Slipper to make questions and answers shorter and more direct.

"Between the government and the coalition, question time is a pale imitation of what it could be," he said.