NTVES was formed in 1995 after the passage of Voluntary Euthanasia (VE) legislation in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. Marshall Perron's Rights of the Terminally Ill Act (ROTI) was the world's first VE legislation. It survived several appeals and became usable on 1 July 1996. Four people made use of ROTI before a private member's bill in Federal Parliament in March 1997 took away the right of a territory parliament to pass VE legislation. The Restoring Territory Rights Bill 2022 removed this prohibition in December 2022 but the NT Government has not yet announced any plans to legislate on VE in the foreseeable future despite the fact that all the States now have VE legislation in place and the ACT is drafting legislation.

OUR AIMS

Despite this setback, NTVES remains committed to our objectives:

• To promote a knowledge and understanding of VE legislation to the members and general community.
• To influence public and political opinion in preparation for the time when the Northern Territory Parliament decides to address voluntary euthanasia legislation.
• To promote palliative care services in the NT to ensure voluntary euthanasia is not sought due to inadequate palliation.
• To promote the adoption of progressive legislation on consent to medical treatment and medical power of attorney.
• To cooperate with other associations with compatible objectives.
• To develop and maintain a relationship with the NT Government and other related interested parties/groups which will enable the Society to provide effective and timely input to legislation and regulatory processes and policy development.

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Associated Organisations

Australian State and Territory dying-with-dignity and voluntary euthanasia societies which share our aims include:

 

For the latest international news and information on dying with dignity and voluntary euthanasia visit The World Federation of Right to Die Societies.

WFRtDS has marked the World Right to Die Day in 2022 by producing the World of Champions.

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Our Patron

Marshall Perron

One of many active ambassadors for reform.

Ambassadors for law reform

For decades the majority of Australians have believed that those who are suffering intolerably from a terminal or advanced stage of an incurable illness should have the legal right to request and obtain medical assistance to end their lives with dignity. Many prominent Australians support law reform. View the full list of ambassadors at Dying with Dignity Victoria

Contact Us

For more information including membership please contact us by post at NTVES, PO Box 40751, Casuarina NT 0811, Australia or email to ntves@bigpond.com. Donations are welcome.