Jacqui Lambie confirms support for conscience vote
More federal politicians have shared their position on giving the territories a say on euthanasia. SEE WHAT THEY SAID.
Northern Territory
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ONE of federal parliament’s most vocal politicians has added her voice in support to allow the territories to decide legalising voluntary assisted dying (VAD).
A spokeswoman for Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie confirmed she would support the territories if a private members bill for a conscience vote is put before parliament.
The spokeswoman also said Senator Tammy Tyrrell would also vote in support.
Senator and independent show support
A GREENS senator and ACT independent have voiced their support to allow the territories to decide legalising voluntary assisted dying (VAD).
Greens Senator David Shoebridge, who is also the party’s justice spokesman, said the decision to prevent the territories from passing VAD laws was always “deeply cynical and inappropriate”.
“The Greens support the urgent repeal of the Andrews’ Bill. We do this as part of a long track record of supporting territory rights,” he said.
“This is not a conscience vote for the Greens, it’s a matter of principle.
“If people who live in states are allowed access to voluntary assisted dying schemes, the same rights need to be extended to the territories.”
A spokeswoman for independent ACT Senator David Pocock also confirmed he would vote in favour of the territories deciding on legalising VAD.
Senator Pocock campaigned strongly for VAD during the 2022 federal election.
Nationals leader speaks out on conscience vote
NATIONALS leader David Littleproud has outlined his “personal perspective” on whether he would support allowing territories to decide for themselves on voluntary assisted dying (VAD).
But the newly-installed leader of parliament’s third largest party has indicated he will allow other MPs within the Nationals to vote with their conscience.
Mr Littleproud said he supported Territorians having their own say on issues such as euthanasia.
“From my personal perspective the value of a Territorians vote should be the same to that of any other Australian,” he said.
He wouldn’t declare his support for a private member’s bill being put forward by two Labor MPs, saying he needed to see the legislation first.
“I cannot give a definitive answer but would support a conscience vote in principle.”
The NT News also reached out to ACT Senator and Labor’s Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, who said it was “beyond time” for the issue to be settled.
Senator Gallagher said she would push for fellow Labor figures to support the legislation.
Canberra MP Alicia Payne on Wednesday said she was “optimistic” the private members bill would have the support of the majority of lower house MPs.
“All Australians deserve equal democratic rights and currently those in the territories do not,” Ms Payne said.
“Territory rights is an extremely important issue for my constituents and one of the issues most regularly raised with my office – they want this to be fixed with urgency.
“The ACT has a mature parliament and government, which has successfully governed and made farsighted decisions for the ACT for decades.”
Ms Payne said Labor’s ACT and NT parliamentarians were working to bring the legislation to a vote in parliament “as soon as possible”.
Mark Dreyfus QC reveals support for NT and ACT vote on euthanasia
AUSTRALIA’S Attorney-General will support the territories getting the right to vote on voluntary assisted dying.
A spokesman for Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC confirmed he would vote in support to restore territory rights, with a conscience vote potentially taking place in the next few weeks.
“We do support territory rights and that’s been Labor’s long-held position,” Mr Dreyfus said.
“But Territorians should be in absolutely no doubt that Labor supports Territory rights. Labor supports the rights of Territorians to be self-governing, which was the promise made with the self-government act back in 1979.”
Solomon MP Luke Gosling is working alongside ACT MP Alicia Payne to present a new Bill to restore the territories’ rights to legalise euthanasia when federal parliament resumes in July.
The NT News has contacted members of the Australian Parliament to confirm whether or not they will support the Bill.
Territory MP vows to restore NT’s euthanasia powers under Labor
MEMBER for Solomon Luke Gosling has vowed to restore the Territory’s right to legalise euthanasia “as soon as possible” when parliament resumes later this month.
The NT became the first jurisdiction in the world to legalise voluntary assisted dying in 1995 but the legislation was later vetoed by the federal Coalition government in 1997.
The new Bill comes after concerted efforts to overturn former Liberal MP Kevin Andrews’ veto fell on deaf ears before Labor ousted the Morrison government at the May election.
“Twice in opposition I co-sponsored a private member’s bill to restore territory rights, but the Coalition had no interest in unwinding the damage done by Kevin Andrews and was happy for Territorians to remain second-class citizens,” Mr Gosling said on Sunday.
“The NT and ACT deserve to have the same rights as all other Australians to make decisions for themselves, which is why I’m proud to be moving a private member’s bill, along with my ACT colleague Alicia Payne, to get this done as soon as possible when the new parliament convenes.
“Territory rights were stripped in the NT and the NT will restore them.”
Judy Dent, whose husband Bob was the first person in the world to die through euthanasia at his home in Darwin in 1996, welcomed the news.
“I’m very pleased to hear that the Labor government has kept the promise that they made during the election lead up and is proposing a bill to restore the rights of the territories, that is the NT and the ACT, to have voluntary assisted dying legislation if their parliaments wish to do so,” she said.
The latest push follows a campaign by the NT News last year to repeal the Commonwealth Euthanasia Laws Act that stripped the Territory of the power to legislate on voluntary assisted dying.
Territory Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said she would “fight vehemently” to get the bill through the Senate, where the government does not have a majority.
“Territorians want action on Territory rights which is why my fellow Labor Senators and MPs are so keen to finally deliver on this,” she said.
“Territorians should never be treated as second class citizens and I will fight vehemently for us to have the same rights that exist for our fellow Australians in the states.”
Ms McCarthy said it was “certainly time for Territorians to get back the rights they deserve”.
“Our Territory parliamentarians should be able to debate and argue passionately about whatever issue is affecting their very own constituents who put them there,” she said.
“It has been over two decades since the Northern Territory courageously brought this issue forward, well ahead of its time.”
New Labor Territories Minister Kristy McBain told The Australian last week she would back the NT and ACT backbenchers’ push to restore territory rights.
“When I took on the role of Minister for Territories, I made it clear I will work collaboratively with ACT and NT representatives, and I will assist their efforts in passing a bill to give governments in the ACT and Northern Territory the power to shape their own legislation around assisted dying,” she said.
“Territory rights, particularly in regards to voluntary assisted dying, have been a priority for Labor’s ACT and NT members and senators for a number of years now.”
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler told the national broadsheet he supported the right of the two territories to legislate on euthanasia for themselves.
“The interference in that aspect of the territory parliaments’ powers is overreach by the commonwealth,” he said.
“It’s been extraordinary the speed with which VAD, or voluntary assisted dying, laws have passed through so many state parliaments over the last couple of years and I think broadly they’ve been well constructed, based on good consultation with obviously the community and patient groups but also with clinicians and in their early days seem to be working very effectively.”
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said “Territorians know what is best for the Northern Territory” and she welcomed the bill “to restore Territory rights”.
“We strongly support returning legislative powers to the Northern Territory on all matters that affect Territorians,” she said.
“Euthanasia is a complex issue and one that many people feel passionate about – Territorians deserve to have a say on how these law can affect them.”
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