All six states of Australia have passed laws for voluntary assisted dying.
But the ACT and the Northern Territory can’t do this.
We can’t even contemplate legislation in this space.
Why?
Because, in 1997, the Australian parliament banned us.
In 1997, the Australian parliament inserted a clause into the ACT and NT’s Self-Government Acts which states that we have no power to make laws with respect to voluntary assisted dying.
This is unfair and unreasonable.
While states around Australia are passing legislation for voluntary assisted dying, Territory citizens are being denied our democratic rights.
Our lives – especially the end of our lives – should be governed by our laws.
But we’ve been banned on the basis of where we live.
The citizens of the ACT and the NT deserve the same rights as any other Australian.
On 1 August 2022, the Restoring Territory Rights Bill 2022 was introduced. It will soon proceed to a debate and a vote.
While the Bill is an important first step, changing the law is in the hands of 151 federal MPs and 76 Senators.
Almost all of whom are from a State, not a Territory.
Some of whom do not even know that this unfair situation exists – and that it’s up to them to change it.
Does this matter to you?
It matters to us.
And we need to make it matter to them.
We cannot get this changed with the efforts of ACT and NT citizens alone.
We need your help.
There are two things you can do in just 5 minutes.
- Write to or call any Senator or any MP of your choice. There is a very easy form here.
- Ask your friends and family to write and call as well.
Want to know more? Read the history of this unfair, unreasonable and undemocratic situation.