The Australian Christian Lobby has urged the Senate to reject a bill which would give the governments of the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory the power to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide.
Introduced by Liberal Democrats Senator David Leyonhjelm, the Restoring Territory Rights (Assisted Suicide Legislation) bill will be debated and voted in August after the Senate this week passed a motion allowing for it.
The Northern Territory became the first Australian jurisdiction to legalise euthanasia in 1995 but the Federal Government later passed a bill banning both territories from legalising assisted suicide.
Martyn Iles, the ACL’s managing director, said it was “internationally evident” that there were no safeguards to make euthanasia “completely safe”.
“We know that state-sanctioned euthanasia leads to vulnerable and elderly people being put in dangerous situations.”
The Australian reported this week that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has privately assured Senator Leyonhjelm that Coalition MPs will be given a free vote on the bill as part of a deal between the two.
“It is extremely disappointing to hear reports that the Prime Minister has struck a deal with Leyonhjelm, trading the issue of state and territory promoted suicide in exchange for support in other legislation,” Mr Iles said.
Victoria last year became the first Australian state to pass its own voluntary assisted dying legislation.
