Northern Territory set to legalise voluntary assisted dying as VAD bill gains majority support

The Northern Territory government has introduced the Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill 2026, which would make voluntary assisted dying (VAD) legal across the territory. All 17 Country Liberal Party members have indicated they will back the legislation in an upcoming conscience vote, giving it a clear majority. The bill, slated for debate in August, restores the NT’s VAD rights that were first granted in 1996 and revoked in 1997, with the federal restoration occurring in 2022.

Key provisions include a “gag clause” that prevents health workers from initiating VAD discussions; patients must raise the topic themselves. Assessment for VAD must be conducted face‑to‑face, and the bill does not permit remote or telehealth consultations. Conscientious objectors may decline participation but must still supply patients with required information. The legislation limits eligibility to persons with a life expectancy of 12 months or less.

The move makes the NT the final Australian jurisdiction to adopt VAD laws, aligning its framework with the current national model while retaining distinctive procedural safeguards.