Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Lucy Bladen

Rattenbury to confront Cash on ACT's euthanasia rights

ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury will call for state attorneys-general to support territory rights. Picture: Elesa Kurtz

ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury will confront his federal counterpart over the Commonwealth's ban that prevents the territories from debating on voluntary assisted dying legislation.

Mr Rattenbury will come face-to-face with federal Attorney-General Michaelia Cash at the meeting of attorneys-general on Friday after she last month dismissed a call from the territories to reverse the ban.

At the meeting, Mr Rattenbury and Northern Territory Attorney-General Selena Uibo will ask their state counterparts at the meeting to support the territories' right to legislate on voluntary assisted dying.

They will specifically ask the attorneys-general to call on the federal government to repeal the so-called Andrews Bill.

"It's absolutely time these discriminatory restrictions were removed and we ask the attorneys-general of Australia to support us in this call," Mr Rattenbury said.

"It is very simple, if citizens of the states are allowed to access voluntary assisted dying schemes, citizens of the territories should also be allowed.

"Residents of the territories are being treated as second-class citizens. The imposed restriction on our ability to legislate on voluntary assisted dying is inequitable and undemocratic."

ACT and the NT have been unable to legislate on voluntary assisted dying since 1997, following a bill from Liberal MP Kevin Andrews which repealed that right.

Senator Cash last month said the federal government had no plans to introduce legislation to repeal the ban on the territories.

Almost every state has passed laws to legalise voluntary assisted dying. NSW is the only state that hasn't, however, a bill is currently being considered by the state's Parliament.

ACT Human Rights Minister Tara Cheyne and Ms Uibo wrote to former federal attorney-general Christian Porter in March, accusing the federal government's laws of being undemocratic and inconsistent with Australia's international human rights obligations.

Senator Cash, who took over as Attorney-General shortly after the letter was sent, only responded last month.

"The government recognises that members of the community have strong views about dying with dignity, compassion, and with minimal pain," Senator Cash's letter said.

"While I appreciate the diversity of views, the government does not have any current plans to introduce legislation to repeal the Euthanasia Laws Act."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.