Northern Territory to Finally Introduce Voluntary Assisted Dying Legislation After Two Decades of Prohibition
- The NT government will introduce a bill mid-2026, nearly 20 years after the Commonwealth vetoed the territory’s world-first euthanasia laws in 1997.
- Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby says the legislation will be a conscience vote, allowing party members to vote according to their personal beliefs.
- The move comes after a months-long parliamentary inquiry into Voluntary Assisted Dying wrapped up in September 2025.
In a landmark move, the Northern Territory government has announced plans to introduce Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) legislation to parliament this year, marking a significant shift in the territory’s stance on the issue.
According to Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby, the NT government is currently drafting the legislation, which will be introduced mid-2026. The bill will be subject to a conscience vote, allowing party members to vote in line with their personal beliefs.
“Legislating for the rights of the terminally ill is one of the most sensitive and complex reforms any government can undertake,” Ms Boothby said in a statement. “We’re taking the time to get this right.”
The NT’s journey to legalise VAD has been long and arduous. In 1995, the territory became the first place in the world to legalise VAD, thanks to a private bill put forward by then-chief minister Marshall Perron. However, this world-first was short-lived, as Federal MP Kevin Andrews introduced a private members bill in 1996, which removed the NT and ACT’s ability to legalise VAD.
It wasn’t until 2022 that the federal parliament lifted the territory ban, paving the way for the NT to reconsider VAD legislation. With the NT now the last Australian jurisdiction to legalise VAD, the introduction of this bill marks a significant milestone in the territory’s history.
Ms Boothby acknowledged that the reforms would not be supported by everyone, saying, “We acknowledge these reforms will not be supported by everyone.” However, for those who have been advocating for VAD, this move is a welcome step forward.
The introduction of VAD legislation will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the lives of terminally ill patients and their families in the Northern Territory. As the NT government takes this crucial step, it’s clear that the journey to legalise VAD has been a long and difficult one, but ultimately, a necessary one.