# Euthanasia Laws Act 1997

The Euthanasia Laws Act 1997 (Cth) was an Act of the Parliament of Australia to amend the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978, the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 and the Norfolk Island Act 1979 to remove the power of the Parliament of each of those territories to legalise euthanasia. The law was enacted in response to the enactment of the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995 (NT) by the Parliament of the Northern Territory which had legalised euthanasia in the Territory. The Act was repealed by the Restoring Territory Rights Act 2022, which was passed by the federal parliament in December 2022.

## Background

The Euthanasia Laws Bill 1996 was introduced in the Australian Parliament by Liberal Party backbencher Kevin Andrews as a private member's bill.

## The Act

Despite the power to legislate for euthanasia being held by the states, under Section 122 of the Constitution of Australia the Federal Parliament has the power to override any law passed by a territory parliament. This occurred in 1997, when the Federal Parliament passed the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997, originally introduced as a private member's bill by Liberal MP Kevin Andrews. The legislation passed the Senate by 38 votes to 33 in March 1997, having previously passed the House of Representatives by 88 votes to 35 in December 1996. The law amended the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 and Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 to explicitly prevent the Northern Territory Parliament and Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly from legislating to allow euthanasia or assisted suicide. An identical ban was placed into the Norfolk Island Act 1979, which was later repealed as part of the abolition of self-government on Norfolk Island by the Abbott government in 2015. As well as removing the power of those territories to legalise euthanasia, the Act specifically repealed the provisions of the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995 (NT), which had previously been passed by the Northern Territory Parliament and allowed euthanasia to occur in the territory in the intervening period.
Euthanasia Laws Bill 1996 – Third Reading in the House of Representatives :
| Party | Party | Votes for | Votes against | Abstained/Absent |
| | Liberal (76) | 53 Tony AbbottNeil AndrewKevin AndrewsFran BaileyBob BaldwinPhil BarresiKerry BartlettBruce BillsonBronwyn BishopJohn BradfordRussell BroadbentAlan CadmanEoin CameronRoss CameronBob CharlesPeter CostelloTrish DraperKay ElsonRichard EvansJohn FaheyTeresa GambaroJoanna GashElizabeth GraceDavid HawkerJoe HockeyJohn HowardRicky JohnstonDavid JullDavid KempLou LiebermanPeter LindsayJim LloydStewart McArthurJudi MoylanStephen MutchBrendan NelsonGeoff ProsserChristopher PyneMichael RonaldsonPeter SlipperTony SmithWarwick SmithAlex SomlyayAndrew SouthcottSharman StoneBill TaylorAndrew ThomsonDanna ValeBarry WakelinAndrea WestDaryl WilliamsTrish WorthPaul Zammit | 11 Mal BroughNick DondasWarren EntschChris GallusPetro GeorgiouGary HardgraveSusan JeanesGary NairnPeter NugentPeter ReithWilson Tuckey | 12 Bob Halverson (Speaker)Alexander DownerJackie KellyGraeme McDougallIan McLachlanChris MilesJohn MoorePhilip RuddockKathy SullivanDon RandallBruce ReidMichael Wooldridge |
| | Labor (48) | 22 Dick AdamsKim BeazleyLaurie BreretonJanice CrosioMartyn EvansJoel FitzgibbonTed Grace (teller)Michael HattonMichael LeeRobert McClellandStephen MartinFrank MossfieldGavan O'ConnorRoger PriceHarry QuickBob SercombeStephen SmithLindsay TannerAndrew TheophanousKelvin ThomsonGreg WiltonLeo McLeay | 21 Anthony AlbanesePeter BaldwinDavid BeddallArch BevisBob BrownSimon CreanAnnette EllisGareth EvansLaurie FergusonMartin FergusonAlan GriffinColin HollisHarry JenkinsDuncan KerrCarmen LawrenceJenny MacklinBob McMullanAllan MorrisPeter MorrisNeil O'Keefe (teller)Rod Sawford (teller) | 5 Clyde HoldingBarry JonesMark LathamDaryl MelhamRalph Willis |
| | National (18) | 11 John AndersonLarry AnthonyIan CausleyJohn ForrestNoel Hicks (teller)Peter McGauranPaul NevilleBruce ScottIan SinclairWarren TrussMark Vaile | 2 Michael CobbGarry Nehl | 5 Tim FischerBob KatterDe-Anne KellyPaul MarekJohn Sharp |
| | Independent (5) | 2 Paul FilingAllan Rocher | 1 Peter Andren | 2 Pauline HansonGraeme Campbell |
| | Vacant (1) | – | – | 1 Fraser (by-election) |
| Total (148) | Total (148) | 88 | 35 | 25 |
Euthanasia Laws Bill 1997 – Third Reading in the Senate :
| Party | Party | Votes for | Votes against | Abstained/Absent |
| | Liberal (29) | 21 Eric AbetzRichard AlstonPaul CalvertIan CampbellGrant ChapmanHelen CoonanAlan EgglestonChris EllisonAlan FergusonJeannie FerrisBrian GibsonBill HeffernanJohn HerronRod KempNick MinchinWarwick ParerKay PattersonJim ShortJohn TierneyJudith TroethJohn Watson | 6 Robert HillSue KnowlesIan MacdonaldJocelyn NewmanMargaret ReidAmanda Vanstone | 2 Winston CraneDavid MacGibbon |
| | Labor (28) | 9 Mark BishopJacinta CollinsStephen ConroyBarney CooneyMichael ForshawJohn HoggBelinda NealNick SherrySue West | 18 Nick BolkusKim CarrBruce ChildsBob CollinsPeter CookRosemary CrowleyKay DenmanChris EvansJohn FaulknerBrenda GibbsKate LundyJim McKiernanSue MackayShayne MurphyKerry O'BrienRobert RayMargaret ReynoldsChris Schacht | 1 Dominic Foreman |
| | Democrats (7) | 1 John Woodley | 6 Lyn AllisonVicki BourneCheryl KernotMeg LeesNatasha Stott DespojaAndrew Murray | – |
| | National (6) | 5 Ron BoswellDavid BrownhillSandy MacdonaldJulian McGauranBill O'Chee | 1 Grant Tambling | – |
| | Greens (2) | – | 2 Bob BrownDee Margetts | – |
| | Independent (2) | 2 Mal ColstonBrian Harradine | – | – |
| | Vacant (2) | – | – | 2 John Panizza (Died 31 January 1997; seat not filled)Bob Woods (Resigned 13 March 1997; seat not filled) |
| Total (76) | Total (76) | 38 | 33 | 4 |

## Legacy

Over the following 20 years there were nine bills introduced to the parliament to repeal Andrews' legislation, though at no point did any repeal legislation come to a vote on the floor of either chamber of parliament. In 2018 Liberal Democratic Party Senator David Leyonhjelm re-introduced a bill into the Senate to remove the federal ban on the ACT and Northern Territory legislating for euthanasia. Leyonhjelm's bill was given priority in the Senate after he secured the Turnbull government's agreement for a conscience vote in the Senate and possibly the House of Representatives (the question of the government permitting a vote in the House was unresolved), in exchange for his support to reinstate the Australian Building and Construction Commission. The Liberal/National government, opposition Labor Party and several minor party crossbenchers held a conscience vote on the legislation. Despite Leyonhjelm expressing optimism for the bill's prospects, it was defeated in the Senate by 36 votes to 34.
Restoring Territory Rights (Assisted Suicide Legislation) Bill 2015 – Second Reading in the Senate :
| Party | Party | Votes for | Votes against | Absent |
| | Labor (26) | 16 Catryna BilykCarol BrownDoug CameronAnthony ChisholmKristina KeneallySue LinesJenny McAllisterMalarndirri McCarthyClaire MooreLouise PrattLisa SinghDavid SmithGlenn SterleAnne Urquhart (teller)Murray WattPenny Wong | 7 Jacinta CollinsPat DodsonDon FarrellAlex GallacherChris Ketter (teller)Helen PolleyDeborah O'Neill | 3 Kim CarrGavin MarshallKimberley Kitching |
| | Liberal (25) | 3 Simon BirminghamIan MacdonaldMarise Payne | 21 Eric AbetzSlade BrockmanDavid BushbyMichaelia CashRichard ColbeckMathias CormannJonathon DuniamDavid FawcettConcetta Fierravanti-WellsMitch FifieldLucy GichuhiJane HumeJames McGrathJim MolanJames PatersonLinda ReynoldsAnne RustonScott RyanZed SeseljaDean SmithAmanda Stoker | 1 Arthur Sinodinos |
| | Greens (9) | 8 Sarah Hanson-YoungNick McKimRichard Di NataleJanet RiceRachel SiewertJordon Steele-JohnPeter Whish-WilsonAndrew Bartlett | – | 1 Lee Rhiannon |
| | National (6) | 1 Nigel Scullion | 4 Matt CanavanSteve MartinBarry O'SullivanJohn Williams | 1 Bridget McKenzie |
| | One Nation (2) | 1 Pauline Hanson | 1 Peter Georgiou | – |
| | Centre Alliance (2) | 2 Stirling GriffRex Patrick | – | – |
| | Australian Conservatives (1) | – | 1 Cory Bernardi | – |
| | Katter's Australian (1) | – | 1 Fraser Anning | – |
| | United Australia (1) | – | 1 Brian Burston | – |
| | Justice (1) | 1 Derryn Hinch | – | – |
| | Liberal Democrats (1) | 1 David Leyonhjelm | – | – |
| | Independent (1) | 1 Tim Storer | – | – |
| Total (76) | Total (76) | 34 | 36 | 6 |
The Euthanasia Laws Act remained in effect, even as all six state parliaments passed their own versions of assisted dying legislation between 2017 and 2022. The former Morrison government rejected requests by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Northern Territory governments to repeal the law. The Albanese Government, elected in May 2022, endorsed a conscience vote on repeal legislation that was introduced by Labor MPs Luke Gosling and Alicia Payne on 1 August 2022. The bill, titled the Restoring Territory Rights Bill 2022, removed the sections of the federal self-government acts for the ACT and Northern Territory that prevented those legislatures from passing euthanasia laws. It did not restore the Northern Territory's euthanasia law that was nullified by the federal parliament in 1997. Debate of the bill was prioritised by the government, and was approved by 99 votes to 37 in the House of Representatives on 3 August 2022. The bill passed its second reading in the Senate on 24 November 2022 by 41 votes to 25. It passed its third reading in the Senate on 1 December 2022, with no division called. The legislation received royal assent on 13 December 2022 and took immediate effect.
Restoring Territory Rights Bill 2022 – Third Reading in the House of Representatives :
| Party | Party | Votes for | Votes against | Abstained/Absent |
| | Labor (77) | 69 Anthony AlbaneseAnne AlyMichelle Ananda-RajahChris BowenMatt BurnellLinda BurneyJosh BurnsMark ButlerAlison ByrnesJim ChalmersAndrew CharltonLisa ChestersJason ClareSharon ClaydonLibby CokerJulie CollinsPat ConroyMark DreyfusJustine ElliotMike FreelanderCarina GarlandSteve GeorganasAndrew GilesPatrick GormanLuke GoslingJulian HillEd HusicStephen JonesGed KearneyPeter KhalilCatherine KingMadeleine KingTania LawrenceJerome LaxaleAndrew LeighSam LimKristy McBainRichard MarlesZaneta MascarenhasLouise Miller-FrostBrian MitchellRob MitchellPeta MurphyShayne NeumannBrendan O'ConnorClare O'NeilAlicia PayneGraham PerrettFiona PhillipsTanya PlibersekSam RaeGordon ReidDaniel RepacholiAmanda RishworthTracey RobertsJoanne RyanMarion ScrymgourBill ShortenSally SitouDavid Smith (teller)Anne Stanley (teller)Meryl SwansonSusan TemplemanMatt ThistlethwaiteKate ThwaitesTim WattsAnika WellsJosh WilsonTony Zappia | 5 Tony BurkeCassandra FernandoMatt KeoghEmma McBrideDaniel Mulino (teller) | 3 Milton Dick (Speaker)Michelle RowlandMaria Vamvakinou |
| | Liberal (42) | 14 Bridget ArcherAngie BellPeter DuttonWarren EntschPaul FletcherIan GoodenoughSussan LeyZoe McKenzieNola MarinoGavin PearceMelissa PriceJames StevensJenny WareJason Wood | 21 Russell BroadbentScott BuchholzGarth HamiltonAndrew HastieAlex HawkeLuke HowarthJulian LeeserScott MorrisonTed O'BrienTony PasinHenry PikeRowan Ramsey (teller)Stuart RobertMichael SukkarAngus TaylorDan TehanAlan TudgeBert van ManenAndrew WallaceKeith WolahanTerry Young | 7 David ColemanMelissa McIntoshAaron VioliRick WilsonKaren AndrewsPhillip ThompsonRoss Vasta |
| | National (16) | 5 Sam BirrellDarren ChesterAndrew GeeDavid LittleproudLlew O'Brien | 10 Colin BoycePat ConaghanMark CoultonDavid GillespieKevin HoganBarnaby JoyceMichael McCormackKeith PittAnne WebsterAndrew Willcox | 1 Michelle Landry |
| | Greens (4) | 3 Adam BandtStephen BatesElizabeth Watson-Brown | – | 1 Max Chandler-Mather |
| | Katter's Australian (1) | – | 1 Bob Katter | – |
| | Centre Alliance (1) | 1 Rebekha Sharkie | – | – |
| | Independent (10) | 7 Zoe DanielMonique RyanSophie ScampsAllegra SpenderZali SteggallKylea TinkAndrew Wilkie | – | 3 Kate ChaneyHelen HainesDai Le |
| Total (151) | Total (151) | 99 | 37 | 15 |
Restoring Territory Rights Bill 2022 – Second Reading in the Senate :
| Party | Party | Votes for | Votes against | Abstained/Absent |
| | Labor (26) | 17 Tim AyresCatryna BilykCarol BrownKaty GallagherNita GreenKaren GroganSue Lines (President)Jenny McAllisterMalarndirri McCarthyFatima PaymanLouise PrattMarielle SmithAnne Urquhart (teller)Jess WalshMurray WattLinda WhitePenny Wong | 4 Anthony ChisholmRaff CicconeDon FarrellHelen Polley | 5 Pat DodsonDeborah O'NeillTony SheldonGlenn SterleJana Stewart |
| | Liberal (26) | 6 Simon BirminghamAndrew BraggRichard ColbeckJane HumeMarise PayneLinda Reynolds | 16 Alex AnticWendy AskewSlade BrockmanMichaelia CashClaire ChandlerJonathon DuniamDavid FawcettSarah HendersonKerrynne LiddleJames McGrathAndrew McLachlanMatt O'Sullivan (teller)James PatersonGerard RennickPaul ScarrDean Smith | 4 Hollie HughesJim MolanAnne RustonDavid Van |
| | Greens (12) | 12 Penny Allman-PayneDorinda CoxMehreen FaruqiSarah Hanson-YoungNick McKimBarbara PocockJanet RiceDavid ShoebridgeJordon Steele-JohnLidia ThorpeLarissa WatersPeter Whish-Wilson | – | – |
| | National (6) | 2 Ross CadellPerin Davey | 4 Matt CanavanSusan McDonaldBridget McKenzieJacinta Nampijinpa Price | – |
| | One Nation (2) | 1 Pauline Hanson | 1 Malcolm Roberts | – |
| | Lambie Network (2) | 2 Jacqui LambieTammy Tyrrell | – | – |
| | Palmer United (1) | – | – | 1 Ralph Babet |
| | Independent (1) | 1 David Pocock | – | – |
| Total (76) | Total (76) | 41 | 25 | 10 |