Northern Territory Set to Legalise Euthanasia, 30 Years After Landmark Law Overturned

The Northern Territory Legislative Assembly building in Darwin on Aug. 28, 2023. David Gray/ AFPThe Northern Territory is set to pass assisted dying laws, three decades after a its original attempt was overridden by federal government.The Country Liberal Party (CLP) government says it has sufficient numbers to pass the Rights of the Terminally III Act in the Legislative Assembly without the support of Labor or the crossbench.The original 1995 law briefly made the Territory the first place in the world to legalise voluntary euthanasia, before being overturned by federal legislation in 1997.Federal restrictions preventing territories from legislating on the issue to allow voluntary euthanasia were lifted in late 2022.Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro described the Bill as “a defining moment for the Territory” and said the government had worked through the complex issue in under two years, through a parliamentary committee and consultation with advocates, patients and families.Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said the framework was designed to ensure decisions were voluntary and informed, “with strong safeguards to protect the most vulnerable.”However, the government has not yet released key details, including eligibility criteria, residency requirements, the number of medical assessments needed, or provisions for doctors’ conscientious objection.Challenges in Remote CommunitiesThe government will also need to deal with two issues which may affect the practical implementation of the law: the Territory’s vast remoteness and large Aboriginal population.Many patients live hundreds of kilometres from doctors, while Aboriginal representative organisations have previously called for caution on how the laws are explained and applied.Finocchiaro said CLP members were “united in progressing the reforms.”The Bill is expected to be debated in the August sitting of parliament. Even if passed, the scheme would not begin immediately, with clinical guidelines and implementation expected to take up to 18 months.Assisted dying bills have typically been treated as conscience votes in Australian parliaments. Once the Northern Territory law is passed, every part of Australia will have voluntary assisted dying legislation, though the issue remains controversial.In 2022, Liberal senator Matt O’Sullivan told the Senate he feared such laws could leave people “desensitised to its use as a genuine end-of-life option.”Victoria last year eased access under its own scheme, allowing practitioner-administered medication as well as self-administration, and removing the need for a third assessment for people with neurodegenerative conditions.