Media Release: COTA NT’s Petition for NT Rights Tabled in Canberra
22 Nov 2021
make sure Territorians are not left behind – visit www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/take-action.
COTA NT’s petition to the Members of the House of Representatives, “Repeal Section 50A of the Northern Territory (Self Government) Act 1978 to allow the NT to enact laws dealing with voluntary assisted dying” was launched in February 2021 in response to the wishes of a clear majority of surveyed Members and stakeholders.
The Petition was signed by over a thousand Northern Territorians who supported the right of the Northern Territory legislature to debate and make its own laws regarding voluntary assisted dying.
Today in the Federal Parliament in Canberra, MP for Solomon Luke Gosling tabled our Petition and urged all Territorians to keep fighting for equal rights with Australians living in South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria.
“We will continue to lobby for the rights of Territorians to be equal to those of Australians living elsewhere in the country.” said CEO of COTA NT, Sue Shearer.
“Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland have all passed voluntary assisted dying laws. New South Wales is debating its own Bill. Meanwhile the rights of Australians living in the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory to discuss and develop legislation around voluntary assisted dying continued to be stymied by the Federal Parliament.
“We will not put this to one side. It is an important issue and a topic that deserves debate and discussion; debate and discussion that Territorians have a right too. It is time that Federal Parliament recognises that its refusal to enable this conversation is a contravention of democracy.”
“Our Petition has closed, but we urge people to add their name to a Record of Support led by Go Gentle Australia. It only takes a minute to make a difference and help make sure Territorians are not left behind – visit www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/take-action.”
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Media Contact: Sue Shearer, CEO COTA NT 08 8941 1004
Petition, Repeal Section 50A of the Northern Territory (Self Government) Act 1978 to allow the NT to enact laws dealing with voluntary assisted dying – published to https://www.cotant.org.au/petition/
