Draft Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill released by Leader of the Opposition

13 Oct 2025

Leader of the Opposition, Selena Uibo MLA has today released a draft Voluntary Assisted Dying (Rights of the Terminally Ill) Bill, a ready-to-go framework that delivers the compassion, dignity and choice Territorians have been calling for.

Her statement reads,

I announced in May that I would begin work on a Private Member’s Bill, and today that work is complete, with the draft Bill ready for consultation. This comes after more than a year of CLP delays and indecision, with the Government only recently committing to draft its own legislation following repeated community pressure and two separate inquiries.

It is welcome to see the CLP finally commit to drafting a Bill. However, this issue is too important for further delays. I have the Bill ready to go and urge the CLP to work with this draft version rather than waste more time. I thank the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee for its work confirming what Territorians already know, there is overwhelming support for access to Voluntary Assisted Dying in the NT.

Key features include:

• Clear and compassionate safeguards ensuring access is voluntary, safe and based on strict eligibility criteria.
• Establishment of an independent Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board to oversee implementation, review access and provide public reporting.
• Creation of a dedicated VAD Health Service within NT Health to deliver the service, ensure training, interpreter access and consistency across the Territory.
• Recognition of Aboriginal culture, values and languages, including mandatory cultural-safety and interpreter provisions.
• Protections for health practitioners who act in accordance with the law, while respecting conscientious objection.

I have provided the Bill to the Chief Minister and the Attorney-General, offering it as the basis for bipartisan cooperation to ensure VAD legislation can be introduced and passed before the end of the year.

Quotes attributable to the Leader of the Opposition Selena Uibo:
“Territorians have waited long enough. They deserve the same rights and choices as every other Australian. The Bill is ready, the CLP just needs to get on with it.”
“This isn’t about politics, it’s about compassion in giving Territorian’s dignity, choice and control at the end of life. The time for VAD in the NT is now.”

Information

Read the draft Voluntary Assisted Dying (Rights of the Terminally Ill) Bill 2025 (released 13 October 2025)

Find out what you can do to support the campaign for VAD choice in the Northern Territory here.