Nearly 30 years ago the Northern Territory made history as one of the first jurisdictions in the world to allow voluntary assisted dying. Now it is the only state or territory in Australia not to have VAD laws. And the question of whether the NT will pass legislation to change that could continue for years with the new CLP government saying it will take its time on the issue.
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00:00Congratulating her opponent.
00:04We look forward to being held to account by Ms Yubo.
00:07Lia Finocchiaro welcoming scrutiny from Labor's new leader, Selina Yubo, as she prepared to
00:13fly out to meet the Prime Minister at a National Cabinet meeting.
00:17Top of her agenda, domestic violence in the NT.
00:21It's really important that we work collaboratively.
00:23This is not something that we can play politics over.
00:27The new government hoping it's thumping mandate could give it leverage over Canberra for needs
00:32based funding to fight the NT's staggering domestic violence rates.
00:37But it comes as another long term issue in territory politics raises its head once again.
00:42Voluntary assisted dying or VAD.
00:46This is not a priority area for our government but we know it's an important area for many
00:50people for different reasons.
00:52The Chief Minister flagging a go slow approach to passing new laws on this issue.
00:58And this is about having a really respectful conversation with all Territorians about what
01:02that looks like.
01:04The peak body representing older Territorians not happy a recent report on VAD is collecting dust.
01:10There were 22 recommendations so I would urge the Chief Minister to really look closely
01:16at that report and not to disregard it.
01:19While we can understand it's not a priority, we would like it on the wish list, the agenda,
01:26the parliamentary agenda for next year.
01:29The new Labor leader says Lea Finocchiaro had previously offered bipartisan support
01:34for VAD laws to be debated in Parliament.
01:38I'm very concerned Adam if she's now starting to step away and to back away from that bipartisan support.
01:44Earlier this week Lea Finocchiaro suggested there were swathes of Territorians who disagreed
01:50with voluntary assisted dying.
01:52But that hasn't stopped all other states and territories from legalising the practice
01:55in recent years and the NT risks falling behind.
01:59That's an issue the Chief Minister will likely have to confront in the next four years.