Perron push to ‘restore democracy’ to territories

Former NT chief minister Marshall Perron wants ‘democracy restored’ to the territories.

Former NT chief minister and euthanasia advocate Marshall Perron at his home in Buderim, Queensland. Picture: Lachie Millard

Former Northern Territory chief minister Marshall Perron wants “democracy restored” to the territories, handing them the same authority as state governments to legalise euthanasia.

In a submission to the Senate inquiry into nationhood and democracy, Mr Perron said by withdrawing powers transferred to the territories for self-government, the federal parliament had “effectively divided Australian ­citizens into two classes on the grounds of geography”.

Mr Perron — a voluntary ­euthanasia advocate who was Northern Territory chief minister between 1988 and 1995 — said there was public support for ­assisted death across the nation.

“A clear example of why there is firm evidence of community disenchantment with the political process, and the flow on belief that governments are not responsive to the needs and desires of citizens, is the history of voluntary euthanasia reform in Australia,” Mr Perron said.

Mr Perron, who had his Northern Territory euthanasia laws overturned by the Howard government in 1997, said while euthanasia didn’t rate highly on election agendas, many in the community felt “disappointment” that the issue had been ignored.

“While there is no disputing the commonwealth had the constitutional authority to overturn any law passed by a territory parliament, the abuse to democracy by that action needs to be recognised,” he said.

“The Self Government Acts of the ACT and the Northern Territory gave their Legislative ­Assembly plenary powers to make laws for the peace, order and good government of their citizens.

“Notwithstanding the unprecedented nature of the action, not one of the 126 senators and MHRs who voted for the Euthanasia Laws Bill in 1997 were electorally responsible to Territorians.”

The veteran euthanasia campaigner said by “withdrawing powers that had been transferred to the territories at self government”, the federal parliament had “effectively divided Australian citizens into two classes on the grounds of geography”.

“The 660,000 who choose to live in the territories (more people than live in Tasmania) cannot elect representatives to legislate on their behalf on end of life issues the way citizens living in the states can,” Mr Perron said.

“It may be constitutional, but it is not democracy.”

Mr Perron said there had been several unsuccessful attempts in the Senate over the past two decades to have the powers that were withdrawn from the territories ­returned.

“It has been considered, by those familiar with the subject, that the situation would not be changed until an Australian state passed a voluntary euthanasia law. This has now occurred with the passage of the Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 which came into effect on June 19.”

Mr Perron said there was a ­renewed push by MPs to restore powers to the ACT and Northern Territory and called on the Senate committee on legal and constitutional affairs to make a recommendation in support of those moves.

“In the interest of democracy, the ACT and the NT parliaments be given the equivalent authority to consider legislation on end of life as the states have,” Mr Perron said.

“The Senate is supposed to be the protector of democracy. If not now, when will democracy be ­restored to the territories? After voluntary assisted dying is legalised in WA, or will they have to wait until every state passes such laws before their parliaments can even discuss the issue?”