Fyles government unclear on euthanasia laws despite Labor Party push

The Fyles government is under increasing pressure to act on right-to-die reform with a groundswell of support gathering among the party rank and file. Here’s how they’re calling for ‘urgent’ action.

Labor Party members are calling on their government to “urgently” introduce voluntary assisted dying laws, however the Fyles government’s position has not budged.

At least three branches – Palmerston, Dick Ward and Nightcliff, of which Chief Minister Natasha Fyles is a member – have passed motions calling for the government to urgently act on VAD.

The successful motion that passed the Palmerston wing read the branch “urges the NTG to introduce voluntary assisted dying legislation as a matter of urgency”.

This publication understands other branches are yet to vote on the motion.

The Territory was the first jurisdiction in the world to legalise euthanasia when a private members’ Bill passed in 1995, only to be quashed by the commonwealth two years later.

The government has had the ability to again pass laws on the issue since December last year, after the Restoring Territory Rights Bill passed in Canberra.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has not committed to starting consultation on euthanasia reform in her current term of government. Picture: Liam Mendes / The Australian

Despite pressure gathering among the party members, Ms Fyles has not committed to a review, consultation or any legislation in her government’s current term, which ends in August 2024.

“Voluntary assisted dying is a complex issue and one that many people feel passionate about,” Ms Fyles said on Friday.

“Territorians deserve to have a say on whether or not they want these laws in the Territory, and if so, how they want it to work.

“Any future legislation would be done through intensive consultation with all Territorians.”

A Territory Labor spokesman said party members did not expect the government to pass VAD laws in its current term, indicating the issue would be wielded as an election promise come August next year.

Former chief minister Michael Gunner called for the commonwealth to allow the Territory to legislate on euthanasia as early as 2017. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

“It took the election of the Albanese Labor Government and a sustained campaign by Luke Gosling, Malarndirri McCarthy and Marion Scrymgour for Territorians to get their right to legislate on VAD,” he said.

“Unlike the CLP who disgracefully voted against Territory Rights, the Labor Party supports the rights of Territorians to make their own decisions on the matters that affect them.

“Should they be re-elected, we expect the Territory Labor Government to pass VAD legislation in their next term.

“The only thing that will jeopardise VAD legislation is Lia Finocchiario and the CLP.”

CLP Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price initially opposed the Restoring Territory Rights Bill – the federal legislation that allowed the NT and ACT to pass euthanasia laws once again.

However her position changed and she voted in favour as it passed through the Senate late last year, despite her amendments to the Bill failing.

Labor’s Solomon MP Luke Gosling co-sponsored the legislation, describing it as “incredibly important to Territorians”.

CLP health spokesman Bill Yan said the reforms would require thorough consultation with the support of a parliamentary scrutiny committee. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The CLP’s health spokesman Bill Yan said the reform would require thorough consultation but would not be drawn to saying if he or his party were in favour.

“Labor are all talk, no action and their hollow words are simply a distraction from what has been a week of cover-ups,” he said.

“Territorians have no confidence in the Fyles Government to listen to Territorians.

“If this is brought to parliament, it must be respectfully and thoroughly consulted on through a bipartisan parliamentary scrutiny committee.”

Former chief minister Michael Gunner wrote a letter in 2017 to then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull which said “the time has come … to determine (the Territory’s) own position on this important matter”.

Ms Fyles was also part of a bipartisan parliamentary group who went to Canberra in 2018 calling for the commonwealth to relax laws around the Territory’s ability to self-govern.

She was also presented with an open letter earlier this year signed by dozens of Territorians, united in their view it was “time for the Northern Territory to again lead the way in humane and kind end-of-life treatment.”

The Territory is the only jurisdiction in Australia that is yet to act on voluntary assisted dying laws.