Liberal Democrat senator Sam McMahon blasts CLP’s voluntary assisted dying stance

A Territory senator has blasted a decision by her former party to back away from allowing the NT its own rights to legalise voluntary assisted dying.

SENATOR Sam McMahon has blasted her opponent Jacinta Price and the federal Coalition for “walking away” from allowing the NT to legislate for voluntary assisted dying, saying she believes Territorians “would be better off if Labor wins”.

During a press conference on Friday, Senator McMahon boldly claimed her party, the Liberal Democrats, were on track to win both a senate and a lower house seat on Saturday night while also alleging an LDP volunteer was assaulted at a polling booth.

The outspoken former CLP senator declared that while she hoped the Morrison government was re-elected on Saturday, Territorians who cared deeply about the issue of voluntary assisted dying had been left high and dry by the Coalition.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison earlier in the week ruled out revisiting federal laws which forbade the NT and ACT governments from legislating around voluntary assisted dying.

Sam McMahon has blasted the decision of her former party. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

“Now it was very, very disappointing that the other night I heard that the CLP, through their candidate Jacinta Price, had decided to walk away from a long and deeply held CLP policy of restoring the Territory’s rights in regards to be able to make their own laws about voluntary assisted dying,” Senator McMahon said.

“Territorians who’ve waited 26 years to get their rights back, to enact legislation for themselves, will have to wait – who knows – maybe another 26 years.”

Senator McMahon also detailed a disturbing incident in which an LDP volunteer was allegedly headbutted by a Labor volunteer at a polling booth on Thursday.

She said the incident, including CCTV footage, was now in the hands of police.

She said she had talked to Labor’s Solomon candidate Luke Gosling about the incident, who requested more information.

“The police have been contacted and are investigating,” Senator McMahon said.

“They are examining footage of the event but (it is) extremely distressing that it has disintegrated to that point where we have someone … (allegedly) physically assaulted when they taking part in the democratic process.”

A Territory Labor spokeswoman said the nature of the alleged incident was contested by the party.

“The volunteer and campaign dispute these events,” the spokeswoman said.

“We condemn violence under any circumstances and expect all sides to conduct themselves in a respectful manner.”

When asked how the Liberal Democrats were feeling heading into polling day on Saturday, Senator McMahon said she had both polling and voter feedback which told her the party was on track to win both a lower house seat and a senate seat.

If that eventuates, it would be an upset victory for the LDP, which has largely formed from the defection of disillusioned Country Liberal figures.

ScoMo: Territorians won’t get right to choose voluntary assisted dying

AUSTRALIANS living in the Northern Territory and the nation’s capital will not be afforded the right to decide if voluntary assisted dying should become law should the Coalition government be re-elected.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, on the penultimate day of campaigning, ruled out changing 25-year-old laws that restrict territories from legislating on euthanasia — despite all states already having laws in place, or in the case of New South Wales, debating the issue in parliament.

Federal Labor has committed to dealing with the debate to restore the territories’ rights in its first term of government.

Mr Morrison, who did not state his personal view on the matter, said it was “not our policy” to prioritise debate on the issue should the Coalition be returned.

Asked if he thought Territorians were second-class citizens, Mr Morrison said constitutionally there were differences between states and territories.

“Well, there are differences between territories and states and that is under our Constitution,” he said.

“And we’re not proposing any changes.

“Territories, states have different authorities that are vested in them, and I’m not proposing (to change that).”

In July 1996 voluntary assisted dying was made legal in the NT, the first jurisdiction to make it so.

By March 1997 the then Australian government — under John Howard — passed laws to restrict territories from making laws on euthanasia.

In March 2021, the NT and ACT governments wrote to senior Commonwealth ministers asking for the ban to be repealed, but in October the request was denied by Attorney-General Michaelia Cash.

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