RELEASE
Australia is a step closer to allowing the terminally ill to die with dignity, with Liberal Democrats Senator David Leyonhjelm giving notice of a motion to force debate and allow a free vote on his Restoring Territory Rights (Assisted Suicide Legislation) Bill. The motion is supported by a number of Greens, Labor and Crossbench senators.
The Bill will effectively repeal the Andrews bill of 1997, which prohibits the ACT and NT from legislating to permit assisted suicide.
The motion will be presented in the Senate on Wednesday calling for time to be provided for the bill to be debated and voted on, commencing on the second day the Senate sits after returning from the winter break in August.
"I have a personal assurance from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that if the Senate agrees to provide time for debate, his party will allow a free vote. Further, if my Bill passes in the Senate, he will also allow it to be debated and voted on in the House of Representatives," Senator Leyonhjelm said.
"My bill addresses two issues: territory rights, and the right to die. I am a firm believer in both.
"As a Liberal Democrat I believe in the right of individuals to end their lives painlessly at a time of their choosing, as do the majority of Australians. The Commonwealth should mind its own business on this issue and remove legal impediments to states and territories establishing their own euthanasia legislation."
Euthanasia was first legalised in Australia in the Northern Territory more than two decades ago, under the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995. The law was subsequently voided by the Federal Government under the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997.
"Victoria legislated for assisted suicide late last year, and although similar moves have been narrowly defeated recently in NSW, Tasmania and South Australia, at least this is evidence of democracy in action," Senator Leyonhjelm said.
"While my bill will not automatically make assisted suicide legal in the territories it will at least remove a nonsensical law based on the tenet that some Australians are entitled to more democracy than others." ---
