Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in the Northern Territory

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Consultation has concluded

Voluntary assisted dying

Every Territorian has a right to receive compassionate, high quality and accessible palliative care at their end of life.

Community members are entitled to make decisions around managing their end of life care, like other Australians.

The introduction of the Restoring Territory Rights Act 2022 (Cth) in December 2022 means the NT can now consider legalising voluntary assisted dying (VAD).

Consultation

The NT Government is starting a community consultation process for developing a framework for VAD.

The framework will meet the needs of community members, ensuring this care is accessible, appropriate and safe.

Community consultation meetings will begin from October 2023. Details will be published on this website soon.

Advisory panel

An expert advisory panel has been set up as part of the consultation process.

The panel is led by co-chairs the Hon Vicki O’Halloran AO CVO and Duncan McConnel SC.

The panel is made up of members representing the diversity of the NT community.

Members will report to the Chief Minister and be guided by terms of reference. This means they must listen to the views of the community.

The panel will consider such submissions when making recommendations to government to inform the framework.

The panel will provide a written report to the NT Government by July 2024.

Read more about the advisory panel.

Get the terms of reference PDF (938.4 KB).

Contact

Email VADInquiry@nt.gov.au.

Voluntary assisted dying

Every Territorian has a right to receive compassionate, high quality and accessible palliative care at their end of life.

Community members are entitled to make decisions around managing their end of life care, like other Australians.

The introduction of the Restoring Territory Rights Act 2022 (Cth) in December 2022 means the NT can now consider legalising voluntary assisted dying (VAD).

Consultation

The NT Government is starting a community consultation process for developing a framework for VAD.

The framework will meet the needs of community members, ensuring this care is accessible, appropriate and safe.

Community consultation meetings will begin from October 2023. Details will be published on this website soon.

Advisory panel

An expert advisory panel has been set up as part of the consultation process.

The panel is led by co-chairs the Hon Vicki O’Halloran AO CVO and Duncan McConnel SC.

The panel is made up of members representing the diversity of the NT community.

Members will report to the Chief Minister and be guided by terms of reference. This means they must listen to the views of the community.

The panel will consider such submissions when making recommendations to government to inform the framework.

The panel will provide a written report to the NT Government by July 2024.

Read more about the advisory panel.

Get the terms of reference PDF (938.4 KB).

Contact

Email VADInquiry@nt.gov.au.

  • We want to know how you think voluntary assisted dying should work in the NT

    We are conducting a survey to better understand the perspectives and opinions of Territorians regarding voluntary assisted dying laws. The following questions are about ways that the law could work, and some may be controversial. Your answers to these questions are essential in helping decide how the law should work and be implemented in the NT.

    Consultation has concluded
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