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Voluntary assisted dying bill has numbers to pass, NT government says

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Approved/passed
  • Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) laws are poised to pass the Northern Territory parliament, making euthanasia legal across all Australian jurisdictions.
  • The Country Liberal Party government confirmed the bill has sufficient support for passage in August, despite some divergence from a prior inquiry's recommendations regarding prognosis timeframes and discussion clauses.
  • While broadly supported, the bill includes a 12-month prognosis requirement and a 'gag clause' that limits doctors initiating VAD discussions, drawing some criticism from advocacy groups.

Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) laws are set to become legal in all Australian jurisdictions, with the Northern Territory parliament expected to pass the Rights of the Terminally Ill bill in August. The Country Liberal Party (CLP) government has confirmed the bill has the numbers to pass, regardless of opposition or crossbench support. This marks a significant step, as the NT was the first Australian jurisdiction to legalise VAD in 1996, though federal parliament later removed that right, which was only restored in 2022.

That means that the patient initiates that conversation and, once they do, then all of those discussions can occur.

— Marie-Clare BoothbyAttorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby explains the rationale behind including a 'gag clause' in the voluntary assisted dying bill.

The CLP government commissioned a parliamentary inquiry that recommended VAD adoption. However, the proposed bill diverges from some of these recommendations. While the inquiry suggested no prognosis time frame for eligibility, the bill restricts access to individuals with 12 months or less to live. Furthermore, a 'gag clause,' which bars doctors from initiating VAD discussions with patients, will be included. The government states this clause ensures the laws remain 'patient-led.'

Advocacy groups have expressed mixed reactions. Council on the Ageing NT chief executive Sue Shearer welcomed the bill's passage but voiced disappointment over the 12-month time frame and the gag clause. She noted the chief minister's promise of a future review of the laws.

The chief minister has promised a review [of the laws], so we'll wait and see what that review says.

— Sue ShearerCouncil on the Ageing NT chief executive Sue Shearer expresses hope for future changes to the voluntary assisted dying laws.

Political support for the bill appears broad. Four of Labor's five MLAs are expected to vote in favour, with one abstaining due to electorate wishes. Independent MLA Yingiya Guyula will await the bill's text before deciding his vote, having previously expressed concerns about protections for First Nations people. Independent MLA Robyn Lambley stated she has personal reservations but will not block Territorians from having the same access to VAD as other Australians. Darwin-based independent Justine Davis, a VAD advocate, will support the bill.

not get in the way of Territorians having the same access to VAD as other Australians

— Robyn LambleyIndependent MLA Robyn Lambley states her intention to support the voluntary assisted dying bill despite personal concerns.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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