History may be made with Territory rights restored

1 Aug 2022

After nine unsuccessful attempts in the past two decades to enable the Territory to pass their own laws regarding Voluntary Assisted Dying, history may be made today.

Luke Gosling MLA and co-sponsor Alicia Payne from the ACT have presented the private member’s bill to Parliament today after two previously unsuccessful attempts and 25 years since the Andrews’ ban came into effect.

The bill does not make voluntary assisted dying legal in the territories – but it gives those within the ACT and the NT the right to have the debate and decide for themselves.

“We are eagerly awaiting the results of the first conscience vote of the Albanese government,” said Sue Shearer, CEO of COTA NT. “COTA NT has petitioned for the right of the Territory to make its own laws regarding voluntary assisted dying. Its petitions were submitted to the Attorney General of the day, Michaela Cash who wrote to us to say that she and her government would not support voluntary assisted dying laws. The Minister for the Northern Territory wrote to tell me that our petition request was negated.

“Now finally, an injustice could be righted with the Territories being able to make these important decisions on behalf of their residents themselves,” Shearer added. “COTA NT urges all sitting Members of Parliament to do the right thing and give the Territories its rights. We await the outcome with bated breath.”

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Media contact:

Sue Shearer, CEO COTA NT 08 8941 1004