Time to Write This Law: Voluntary Assisted Dying Choice for the NT

Join broadcaster Andrew Denton and guests at a community information session jointly hosted by COTA NT and Go Gentle Australia. Find out more about the campaign for voluntary assisted dying legislation (VAD) in the Northern Territory. 

Each session will include:

• Keynote from Andrew Denton including his story, brief explanation of VAD and summary of how VAD legislation works in the rest of Australia

• Real-life insight from Northern Territorians

• Panel response to questions raised by members of the public (due to size of venue, questions must be submitted in advance. Submit a question here

• On-the-spot-action (optional): Make a campaign pledge and/or sign the petition.

Admission is free. Pre-registration essential. Your registration will be checked on arrival.

Light refreshments provided.

This is an accessible venue with toilets.

OPEN TO ALL - Suggested attendance

• Tuesday 30 September, 5.30pm to 7.30pm For healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses and allied health professionals), aged care staff and non-clinical staff and stakeholders.

• Wednesday 1 October, 9am to 11am Open to all members of the public.

Conditions of entry

• Entry is by pre-booked tickets. One ticket per person.     

• Photography and audio and visual recording will be conducted at both sessions. By booking a ticket and using general event seating, you are consenting to being photographed and recorded. If you do not consent to being photographed and recorded, you must sit in the designated no-photography seating.

• No age restrictions apply, but U18s must be accompanied by a responsible caregiver.

• Event details may be subject to change.

BACKGROUND

• About Andrew Denton, founder of Go Gentle Australia

• About VAD in the Northern Territory

In 2025, the NT is the only place in Australia without a VAD law.

"I just want the choice to be able to go in my own time, without all the pain that I know I'm going to face. No mess, no fuss basically." - Steve from Waddell, whose lung cancer spread throughout his body

In the 90s, the NT was the first in the world to have a VAD law (also called voluntary euthanasia) but the federal government overturned it. 30 years on, everywhere else in Australia has passed a law so citizens have choice at the end of life if they are suffering. Territorians like Steve Waddell are still waiting left with no choice or control.

ACTION

If you want to support the campaign for voluntary assisting dying legislation in the Northern Territory, you can take action today.

• Sign the campaign petition [URL will be published soon]

• Share the petition

• Tell your story Your story has power - the power to change minds, and the power to change the law in the NT. If you have a personal experience of you or a loved one suffering without VAD laws, please consider sharing your story here. We will never share your story without permission.

NT PARTNERS & ADVOCATES

Go Gentle Australia has partnered with COTA NT for this campaign. COTA NT‘s advocacy for VAD legislation in the Northern Territory is supported by Northern Territory Voluntary Euthanasia Society, Australian Independent Retirees (AIR NT), National Seniors and Marshall Perron.