Inquiry into Voluntary Assisted Dying in the Northern Territory
15 August 2025
The ALA has made a submission to the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory's Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ('Committee') as part of the Committee's inquiry into Voluntary Assisted Dying in the Northern Territory.
As many of the issues raised in the Committee's July 2025 Consultation Paper were addressed in our submission of 16 February 2024, the ALA has referred the Committee to that earlier submission's analysis and recommendations regarding:
- the need for meaningful consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Territorians;
- comparable Voluntary Assisted Dying processes, including decision-making capacity, diagnosis, minimum age and residency requirements;
- the role of health professionals and health services, including training requirements, remuneration, and navigating conscientious objection;
- the use of Telehealth consultations within Voluntary Assisted Dying schemes; and
- Oversight mechanisms, including the establishment of a Northern Territory Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board.
In addition, the ALA has provided further comment on the proposed centralised service delivery model, expressing concerns about its implications for access, cost, and integration with existing NT Health services.
The Committee released its Final Report in September 2025. The Report has recommended that the Northern Territory implement Voluntary Assisted Dying Legislation that is broadly consistent with comparable legislation in other Australian States and Territories.
On 1 October 2025, the Attorney-General announced that the Government will progress drafting VAD legislation to bring to the Legislative Assembly for debate.
In March 2026, the Northern Territory Government published their response to the final report for the Inquiry into Voluntary Assisted Dying in Northern Territory. In their response, the Northern Territory Government has indicated it will progress legislative arrangements to support VAD in Northern Territory.
ALA submission
Consultation Paper
Final Report (September 2025)
Northern Territory Government response to final report (March 2026)