NT’s lack of euthanasia rights ‘inhumane’, ‘undemocratic’: Lawyer

A LAWYER and chairman for a former Brisbane mayor whose dying wish is to see euthanasia legalised, has described the NT’s lack of legislative power around the issue as and “inhumane”

A LAWYER and chairman of the Trust for Clem Jones whose dying wish is to see euthanasia legalised, has described the NT’s lack of legislative power around the issue as “undemocratic” and “inhumane.”

Former Brisbane Mayor David Muir said his close friend and associate Mr Jones, who died in 2007, passionately advocated for end of life choices after watching his wife suffer for years before her death.

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Mr Muir said that as the chairman of Mr Jones’ trust, he continued to advocate for the right to choose, including in the NT.

“The Commonwealth Government need to repeal that law,” he said.

“It’s undemocratic … it’s discriminatory if residents of the NT and the ACT don’t have the same rights as the states.

Former Lord Mayor of Brisbane Clem Jones.

“It is inhumane for all of those reasons.”

Mr Muir said Mr Jones, who was the longest serving mayor of Brisbane and a surveyor by trade, also had a soft spot for the Territory.

“He was the man Gough Whitlam sent up there to rebuild the city after Cyclone Tracy,” he said.

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“He also sailed a beer can raft from Darwin to Singapore – he wanted the world to know Darwin was back in business.”

If the NT is not given back its power to make euthanasia legal, Mr Muir said it would be left behind the rest of the country, most of which are in the process of passing voluntary assisted dying legislation.