Arabic version: الإقليم الشمالي يستعد لتشريع الموت الطوعي بمساعدة

According to ABC News, the Northern Territory Parliament is expected to pass voluntary assisted dying legislation in a conscience vote on Thursday. If approved, the laws would allow terminally ill Territorians to legally access voluntary assisted dying and make the NT the final Australian state or territory to introduce such legislation.

The Country Liberal Party government introduced its proposed bill to parliament last month. Almost all Northern Territory parliamentarians are in favour of legalising voluntary assisted dying, although some members intend to propose amendments. The NT is currently the only Australian jurisdiction without voluntary assisted dying laws.

The territory first legalised voluntary assisted dying in 1995, becoming the first place in Australia to do so. However, the federal government overturned that law in 1997. In 2022, the NT and the ACT regained the power to make their own voluntary assisted dying laws after an act overturned the 25-year-old ban. Since then, multiple NT governments have held inquiries and consultations.

Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said the proposed laws would provide more rights and choices for terminally ill Territorians and their loved ones. She said the government was acting for people facing the end of their lives and sought to give patients certainty and families security as they navigated grief with choice and dignity.

Government backbencher Tanzil Rahman plans to move amendments targeting provisions that would restrict access to people estimated to have 12 months or less to live and prevent health professionals from initiating discussions about voluntary assisted dying. Those provisions differ from recommendations in a parliamentary inquiry report led by Dr Rahman and tabled in October last year. Opposition Leader Selena Uibo also plans similar amendments, though their parliamentary support is unclear.