Canberra must relinquish its control over Territorians’ rights and let the NT decide on euthanasia again

IT is long past time that Canberra relinquished its unjust control over Territorians’ rights and allowed the NT’s residents to decide whether they wish to legalise euthanasia here again

Bob Dent was the first person to use the Northern Territory’s euthansia legislation in 1996 and, as such, became the first person in the world to die from a legal, voluntary lethal injection

• Fight for NT assisted dying laws continues, 24 years on

EUTHANASIA is a taboo subject that deserves to be openly discussed.

For many, euthanasia can mean the difference of dying with dignity, suffering in pain for months on end or ending one’s life by suicide, which in turn is a touchy subject.

The NT was ahead of its time when the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995 was introduced.

It allowed Bob Dent, a man who had battled prostate cancer, the dignity to end his suffering the way he wanted.

His decision didn’t impact or hurt anyone else. It was his choice alone to make and that’s how it should be.

Sadly the far-removed southerners of Canberra had other ideas and just nine months later a group of out-of-touch federal politicians introduced legislation that took away the right for Territories to decide.

That legislation still stands today, 24 years later.

Canberra is still deciding what choices residents of the Northern Territory have.

Again the right for someone to die by assisted euthanasia doesn’t affect those in Canberra. It gives those who are terminally ill in the NT the choice.

We are treated as second-rate citizens to the rest of Australia as the right for us to decide what legislation we govern ourselves by is ultimately decided by people in Canberra.

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It’s time for Canberra to relinquish the power.

After all if Victoria and WA can pass euthanasia laws, why can’t we have our rights returned?

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