ALP and CLP have committed to a conscience vote on a future Voluntary Assisted Dying

Only 40 per cent of politicians have come out in support of giving Territorians the right to die. See how your local member is voting on voluntary assisted dying laws.

If a bill offering Territorians the right to die was presented to parliament today, only 40 per cent of NT politicians would actively support it.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler and Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro have both committed their parties to a free vote, allowing members to be guided by their conscience when a voluntary assisted dying Bill is presented.

The NT and ACT are the only places in Australia without VAD laws, after a 26-year-old federal gag order on debating the right to die in Territory parliaments was lifted last year.

The NT News has asked all current members of parliament if they personally support VAD legislation.

Eleven members — 44 per cent of the chamber — confirmed they supported the right to die, if the appropriate safeguards were in place.

Sanderson MLA Kate Worden said her decision to supoprt VAD was deeply personal after having watched her father pass away. Photo by PEMA TAMANG PAKHRIN

Port Darwin MLA Paul Kirby and Sanderson MLA Kate Worden said their decisions were deeply personal having watched their own family members’ suffering.

“After watching my father pass away over an extended period of time, I am a strong supporter of voluntary assisted dying,” Ms Worden said.

Only one member opposed any VAD proposal, Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Only one member opposed any VAD proposal, with Araluen MLA Robyn Lambley stating: “I certainly will not be supporting any ill conceived Bill that entertains some perverse views of the NT Labor Government”.

Twelve MLAs said they were undecided, and would await further consultation with their electorate before stating their views.

The only politician who failed to respond was Katherine MLA Jo Hersey.

Despite the CLP introducing the world’s first euthanasia laws in 1995, only one Opposition member came out in support of restoring the right to die.

Braitling MLA Josh Burgoyne said his decision was led by his constituents, while acknowledging some people still held concerns.

“At this point in time many people in my electorate have expressed their desire to see this happen,” Mr Burgoyne said.

Braitling MLA Josh Burgoyne was the only CLP member to voice his support for VAD laws. Picture: Fia Walsh

Party leader Ms Finocchiaro was undecided, but added the VAD advisory panel’s survey had raised some “serious alarm bells as to the scope” of any future Bill.

The survey asked about eligibility requirements, the appropriate checks and balances, ethical considerations for medical professionals and controversially if people with a mental health condition should be able to access VAD.

But Chief Minister Eva Lawler, who personally supports voluntary assisted dying, said any proposed Bill would come with “water tight and strict guidelines”.

The division between the ‘yes’ and ‘undecided’ camps appears to be a matter of geography with only one politician outside of Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs coming out in support of the right to die.

Goyder MLA Kezia Purick said she supported VAD, along with the “vast majority” of her electorate.

“At its heart, a system of VAD is about offering choice – offering another option for those who wish to take it at the end of life,” Ms Purick said.

Namatjira MLA Bill Yan, who remains undecided, flagged the potential of a scare campaign of “mixed messages and rumour” in bush electorates.

Last week Council of the Ageing NT chief executive Sue Shearer warned the current debate could revive a 1995 religious scare campaign targeting remote Indigenous Territorians.

At the time rumours were rife in remote communities that there was a risk of ‘involuntary euthanasia’ if they visited a public health centre.

Expert advisory panel member and NT council of the Aging CEO Sue Shearer with VAD co-chair Vicki O'Halloran.

Ms Shearer knocked back the propaganda, stating: “It can be pretty simple, it’s a voluntary scheme. Nobody will be forced”.

The biggest factor shaping the undecided camp is the six month election countdown, with many politicians appearing unwilling to make a definitive statement on the issue.

When asked to clarify a response from ALP member for Johnston Joel Bowden, a spokeswoman said the parliamentarian was neither ‘for’, ‘against’ or even ‘undecided’ on VAD.

“I wouldn’t put him in any of those categories,” she said.

Originally published as ALP and CLP have committed to a conscience vote on a future Voluntary Assisted Dying