The Northern Territory Government has ordered a parliamentary inquiry into voluntary assisted dying, including instructions to prepare guidelines for creating laws if the committee recommends adopting the practice in the NT. Source: NT News.
A major independent report into VAD last year recommended that the NT introduce legislation broadly consistent with that of other states and territories, but Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has stalled on implementation, previously stating it was “not a priority” for her government.
Independent MLA Justine Davis yesterday brought a motion calling on Parliament to adopt the recommendations of that report and to recognise the right for Territorians to end their lives “on their own terms”.
Pre-empting Ms Davis’s motion, Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby asked the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee to undertake an inquiry into the independent report.
The Australian Christian Lobby has taken the new inquiry as a win, with hopes more consultation will lead to the recommendation in support of VAD being overturned.
“We welcome the restart of this process and implore the committee to now consider the crucial threshold question – should the NT legislate assisted suicide at all?,” Australian Christian Lobby NT director Nicholas Lay said.
“It is also well known that there is a strong opposition in remote communities, yet the previous process failed to consult out bush. We welcome the new commitment to extensive regional and remote consultation.”
The committee has been asked to prepare a consolidated consultation paper, carry out more consultation, evaluate different VAD models and safeguards, identify any specific challenges associated with delivering VAD in the Territory, and, if the committee recommends adoption, provide drafting instructions for model legislation.
The committee’s report is due by the end of September.
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