Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2004A05118:schedule:1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2004A05118
Segment Type: schedule
Provision Reference: sch 1
Character Range: 1081–2526

Schedule 1—Amendment of the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978

1 After section 50
Insert

 50A Laws concerning euthanasia

 (1) Subject to this section the power of the Legislative Assembly conferred by section 6 in relation to the making of laws does not extend to the making of laws which permit or have the effect of permitting (whether subject to conditions or not) the form of intentional killing of another called euthanasia (which includes mercy killing) or the assisting of a person to terminate his or her life.

 (2) The Legislative Assembly does have power to make laws with respect to:
 (a) the withdrawal or withholding of medical or surgical measures for prolonging the life of a patient but not so as to permit the intentional killing of the patient; and
 (b) medical treatment in the provision of palliative care to a dying patient, but not so as to permit the intentional killing of the patient; and
 (c) the appointment of an agent by a patient who is authorised to make decisions about the withdrawal or withholding of treatment; and
 (d) the repealing of legal sanctions against attempted suicide.

2 Application

  For the avoidance of doubt, the enactment of the Legislative Assembly called the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995 has no force or effect as a law of the Territory, except as regards the lawfulness or validity of anything done in accordance therewith prior to the commencement of this Act.