Minister Eva Lawler says ‘time has come’ for NT to vote on voluntary euthanasia, revealing the pain her husband went through at the end of his cancer battle

TERRITORY firefighter and footy legend Tommy Lawler fought a 13 year battle with cancer. His wife, frontbencher Eva Lawler, says it’s time the NT be allowed to vote on voluntary euthanasia

TERRITORY firefighter and footy legend Tommy Lawler fought a 13-year battle with cancer and by the final year the robust man was left frail.

His wife and NT government frontbencher Eva Lawler said he would have appreciated the availability of voluntary euthanasia in the NT in the lead-up to his death in 2018.

Ms Lawler, a passionate supporter of voluntary assisted dying, said the “time has come” for Territorians to again be given the choice to make the option law.

MORE:

How Liz Holmes’ dying wish sparked a mission to restore the NT’s rights to decide on voluntary assisted dying

Convincing govt colleagues to restore Territory rights a challenge Senator says

Chief Minister Michael Gunner concedes he and PM don’t see eye-to-eye on voluntary assisted dying

Tom Lawler (front}

Minister Eva Lawler. Picture: Che Chorley

“We shouldn’t have to wait till (all) six states (have legislated voluntary euthanasia) and only the two territories are the exception,” she said.

Voluntary assisted dying was available in the NT between July 1996 and March 1997, when the Australian parliament kiboshed the territories on euthanasia by amending the Self-Government Act.

Those laws have stood for 24 years, despite other jurisdictions including Victoria and Western Australia, voting to legalise euthanasia, with Tasmania and Queensland not far behind.

The federal government has refused to budge on vetoing the laws that restrict territory rights.

Ms Lawler said it was “frustrating” the NT and the ACT were unable to debate euthanasia legislation.

She said the NT government, if it had the ability, could address the issue of drafting legislation on voluntary euthanasia “straight away”.

“Most everybody, anybody, who’s been on high doses of morphine will tell you how horrible that is to your body, your thinking, and just your general wellbeing,” Ms Lawler said.

“It’s a terrible, terrible place to be. I believe that at some stage, you should be able to have that choice (of accessing voluntary euthanasia.”

Mr Lawler was 61 when he died and has been described by loved ones as a “dedicated family man, loyal friend and terrible fisherman”.