Will the territories ever be able to legalise voluntary euthanasia?

Voluntary euthanasia will not be legal in the national capital for the foreseeable future, with a Senate bill voted down last night. The bill would have allowed the ACT and Northern Territory to legislate on the issue, something they are currently banned from doing. But it was narrowly defeated, 36 votes to 34.

How did we get here?

The territories have been banned from legalising voluntary euthanasia since 1997, when the Federal Parliament passed the so-called Andrews Bill. This Senate bill was the first step to overturning that.

Why did it fail?

The bill was taken as a conscience vote, meaning all senators were free to vote as they wished. The numbers were always likely to be tight, but they broke to the 'no' side towards the end of debate. One of the ACT's most vocal supporters of voluntary euthanasia, Labor MLA Tara Cheyne, laid the blame squarely at ACT Liberal senator Zed Seselja, who voted no.

What happens next?

Labor MP Andrew Leigh has co-sponsored a separate bill for the Lower House. It would seek the same goal, but that bill is unlikely to even be brought on for debate, let alone pass. ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said supporters faced a setback but would continue to agitate for change.

Will it ever be legal?

It is hard to say — and supporters could be waiting a very long time for an answer. Despite the narrow margin, the vote gives opponents a clear reason to put the issue aside until at least the next federal election. "I would certainly hope this issue can be revisited in the new parliament that will be elected inside 12 months," Mr Barr said. "These things take time [and] persistence, and we'll just have to continue our advocacy."

Given it has taken more than two decades to bring this vote on a first time, supporters could be drawing on a lot of persistence and patience before any change is on the horizon.

Source: ABC News