Dear Mr Porter, it’s time to give us the right to choose on euthanasia

THE federal government can walk and chew gum it seems, until it comes time to re-permitting Australia’s two territories their right to legalise, or not, voluntary assisted dying

THE federal government can walk and chew gum it seems, until it comes time to re-permitting Australia’s two territories their right to legalise, or not, voluntary assisted dying.

The NT led the way in 1995 by legalising euthanasia but by way of being a Territory, the federal government swooped with its ideological ban hammer and said “not on my watch”.

In amending the Self Government Act in 1997, the Commonwealth pulled the ACT into the fold and banned them too from ever bringing in voluntary assisted dying laws.

That was 23 years ago. Since then Western Australia and Victoria have given its citizens the right to die. Tasmania and Queensland will soon join.

Considering the momentum the subject has gained in the states, it is unconscionable that the Territories cannot put it to their citizens to choose whether or not they want it.

The federal Attorney-General’s arrogance on the issue is staggering. Read the room, the time is now and the government’s position that it wants to focus on COVID-19 recovery just doesn’t cut the mustard.

The Commonwealth can, and is, working on a multitude of different legislative changes at any one time.

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Electoral laws passed last week that guaranteed the NT two lower house seats was not COVID-19 related, nor is the cashless debit card changes due to pass this week.

It can and should be done but it appears the A-G just can’t be bothered.