The passing of the Restoring Territory Rights Bill 2022 resolves an historical injustice and restores the democratic rights of Northern Territory (NT) and Australian Capital Territory (ACT) residents, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA)
"I am pleased to see this Bill pass Parliament," said Ms Genevieve Henderson, National President, ALA. "It is only fair that NT and ACT residents and their elected representatives have the same right as the six states have had to debate and consider voluntary assisted dying laws.
"This vote restores the democratic rights of Territory residents and corrects an historical and unjustifiable imbalance.
"It is absolutely appropriate that Territory residents and their elected representatives should be able to determine their own laws in relation to voluntary assisted dying, in the same way that Territory politicians are able to legislate on a wide range of other matters.
"It was never fair that Territorians were deprived of the right to even consider the question of voluntary assisted dying for no reason other than that they happen to live in a territory, not a state.
"This decision is essentially about equality, and ensuring Territory residents have the same rights as Australians living in the states."
