DARWIN - 27 October 2021

Federal Labor today confirmed an Albanese Labor Government would, as a priority, facilitate the introduction, debate, and vote on a standalone Private Members/Senators Bill to restore the rights of territories to legislate on voluntary assisted dying that covers both the Northern Territory and the ACT.

Labor members would be allowed a conscience vote on that bill.

The Euthanasia Laws Act passed by the Howard Government were an unacceptable impingement on the ability of the Northern Territory Parliament to make laws for its people.

Territorians deserve equal democratic rights to their fellow Australians.

Today, Federal Labor Caucus agreed it will not be supporting Senator Sam McMahon’s Territory Rights Bill, due to flawed extra elements in the Bill.

Labor supports Territory rights, but not flawed legislation.

Whether or not you support euthanasia – and we recognise the complexity and sensitivity of the arguments for and against – it is absurd that the NT and the ACT cannot make laws for their own jurisdictions, and that Northern Territory legislation can be overridden at the whim of the Federal Government.

We are fighting for the 700,000 or so residents of the NT and ACT to have the same rights as millions of Australians living in the states to decide for themselves whether or not to legislate voluntary assisted dying.