Update on Petition PN0527: Give back to the Northern Territory the right to enact laws dealing with voluntary assisted dying

15 Feb 2022

The petition (PN0527submitted on 24 November 2021) was considered at a recent meeting of the Committee, and certified as meeting the requirements for petitions. It was presented to the House on 14/02/2022 and has recently been referred to the Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories. Under the petition requirements, Ministers have 90 days from presentation in the House to respond to a petition.

Terms:

• Reason: In 1997, the Commonwealth Parliament inserted a clause into the ACT and NT’s Self Government Acts which states that these two jurisdictions have no power to make laws with respect to voluntary assisted dying. This is unfair and unreasonable – and increasingly untenable – as states around the country are passing legislation in this area. Territory citizens are being denied their democratic rights and are disadvantaged on the basis of where they live. This situation should not be allowed to persist. The citizens of the Northern Territory deserve the same rights as any other Australian.
• Request: We therefore ask the House to give back to the Northern Territory the right to enact laws dealing with voluntary assisted dying. The Petitioners respectfully request the House to repeal section 50A of the Northern Territory (Self Government) Act 1978 so as to allow the NT Legislature to enact laws dealing with voluntary assisted dying.

The petition details can be found on the House’s petition website at: http://www.aph.gov.au/petitions.