Australia to legalize assisted dying nationwide after NT passes law

The Northern Territory is set to become the final Australian jurisdiction to legalise voluntary assisted dying (VAD) within weeks, completing nationwide access to the practice. A Rights of the Terminally Ill bill introduced on 23 July is expected to pass the Territory Parliament in August, limiting eligibility to patients whose death is expected within 12 months and prohibiting doctors from initiating VAD discussions. The move follows a historic 1995‑1997 VAD regime in the NT that was later overturned, and recent federal reforms that restored territorial powers to legislate on the issue.

At the same time, the Australian Labor Party’s national conference endorsed an amendment to remove federal barriers to telehealth consultations for VAD care, supporting the use of video or phone meetings while maintaining clinical safeguards. The amendment also calls for stronger regulator powers and annual parliamentary reporting. While some MPs, such as NSW’s Sally Quinnell, argue that face‑to‑face consultations are essential, the party’s platform now backs telehealth as part of end‑of‑life services.