NT senator Sam McMahon considering withdrawing support for Morrison government
Country Liberal Senator Sam McMahon is considering taking the shock step of withdrawing support for the federal government’s legislation.
Northern Territory
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COUNTRY Liberal Senator Sam McMahon may withdraw her support for the Morrison government’s legislation if euthanasia legislation isn’t put before a senate vote.
It comes after Senator McMahon’s ‘Territory Rights’ legislation failed to appear for consideration in the November sittings.
The Canberra Times reported on Friday that Senator McMahon was considering the drastic step if her legislation isn’t considered by the end of her term.
The bill would grant the Northern Territory autonomy to legislate around euthanasia and several other key areas.
Both Senator McMahon and the CLP president Jamie De Brenni have been contacted for comment by the NT News.
The NT lost the right to govern itself over voluntary euthanasia after the then-CLP government legalised it in 1995.
The federal government then intervened in 1996, exercising its powers over territories to veto the legislation.
Since then, voluntary euthanasia has been legalised in Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. New South Wales is considering its own legislation.
Despite progress in other jurisdictions, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory are still barred from legislating around the issue.
Jacinta Price recently won the top spot over Senator McMahon on the CLP’s Senate ticket for the looming 2022 federal election due before May.
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Originally published as NT senator Sam McMahon considering withdrawing support for Morrison government
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