Restoring Territory Rights Bill 2022

The majority voted in favour of a motion to agree with the main idea of the bill. In parliamentary jargon, they voted to read the bill for a second time. This means they can now discuss it in more detail.

Why are the major parties split on how to vote?

This was a free vote (also known as a conscience vote), which means our senators voted according to their own beliefs rather than voting along party lines.

What does this bill do?

According to the bills digest:

• The Bill proposes to remove the restrictions currently preventing the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory from passing legislation which would allow for voluntary assisted dying (VAD).
• These restrictions were introduced in 1997 through the passage of a private member’s Bill introduced by Mr Kevin Andrews MP.
• There have been a number of attempts by parliamentarians to remove these restrictions in previous Parliaments.

In other words, the purpose of the bill is to remove the prohibition on legalising euthanasia so that the Territories can introduce their own laws on the subject.