Northern Territory's Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill: A Conscience Vote on End-of-Life Rights
The Northern Territory government is set to introduce a bill on the rights of the terminally ill in mid-2026. This move follows a parliamentary inquiry into Voluntary Assisted Dying that concluded in September 2025. The upcoming legislation will be presented as a conscience vote for all members of parliament.
After nearly two decades since the Commonwealth vetoed the NT's euthanasia legislation in 1997, the Attorney-General, Marie-Clare Boothby, announced that the NT government is currently working on drafting the voluntary assisted dying (VAD) legislation. The bill is expected to be tabled in parliament in mid-2026. Ms. Boothby emphasized the importance of carefully crafting this legislation due to its sensitive and complex nature.
The proposed VAD legislation in the Northern Territory will allow members of parliament to vote based on their personal beliefs, known as a conscience vote. Ms. Boothby acknowledged that not everyone will support these reforms. The NT made history in 1995 by legalizing VAD through a private bill introduced by then-chief minister Marshall Perron. However, this was overturned in 1997 when the federal parliament passed a bill introduced by Kevin Andrews, effectively banning VAD in the territories.
In 2022, the federal parliament lifted the ban on territories legalizing VAD, making the Northern Territory the last Australian jurisdiction to consider legalizing this practice. The upcoming bill on the rights of the terminally ill in the Northern Territory marks a significant step towards addressing end-of-life choices and care for individuals facing terminal illnesses.