Anthony Albanese backs territory rights

Anthony Albanese says terri­tories should have the right to make their own laws, as parliamentarians prepare to debate legalising voluntary euthanasia in the NT and ACT.

Anthony Albanese. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Anthony Albanese says terri­tories should have the right to make their own laws, as parliamentarians prepare to debate legalising voluntary euthanasia in the Northern Territory and ACT.

With a territory rights bill expected to be presented to federal parliament within weeks, the Prime Minister acknowledged he had been against stripping the territories of the ability to legalise euthanasia 25 years ago.

“There are two issues here, of course: the issue of substance and also the issue of the right of territory governments to be able to determine their own legislation as well,” Mr Albanese said.

“That’s something that, in my view, people in Australia should not be treated any differently and with less rights if they ­happen to live in Canberra compared with living in Queanbeyan in the state of NSW, and similar issues apply to the Northern ­Territory.”

Labor MPs will be given a conscience vote on the issue, with a private member’s bill to be brought forward by government MPs Luke Gosling and Alicia Payne.

The NT became the first jurisdiction in the world to legalise voluntary euthanasia in 1995 and in the nine months the legislation was in force, four people used it to end their lives.

In 1996, former Liberal MP Kevin Andrews introduced a private member’s bill in federal parliament, passed in 1997, which stripped the territories of the right to legalise euthanasia.

Speaking on the Andrews euthanasia laws bill, which was co-sponsored by Labor MP Tony Burke, Mr Albanese said he ­opposed the legislation because he supported human dignity.

“I oppose this bill because I support freedom of choice. I oppose this bill because I support civil liberties. I oppose this bill because my Christian upbringing taught me that compassion is important. I oppose this bill because modern medical practice should be open and accountable, not covert and dishonest,” Mr Albanese said in October 1996.

“I oppose this bill because I believe that the national parliament should only intervene against the state or territory legislature when there is overwhelming public support to do so on a national level.

“Most importantly, I oppose this bill for one critical reason, and that is this: we have all accepted that this parliamentary debate should be a matter for our conscience. How arrogant to then suggest that the ability to exercise conscience should be taken from a terminally ill ­patient who wants to die.”

Momentum to give the territories the power to make their own laws has been growing as every state around the country legalised voluntary euthanasia.