The Member for Fong Lim has today confirmed that he will move three amendments to the Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill (2026), at the August 2026 Legislative Assembly Sittings.
The amendments are being proposed to bring the Bill into closer alignment with the unanimous recommendations of the Final Report of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee into Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) 2025.
Amendments will be proposed for sections:
- 15 Relevant entity may refuse to provide information about voluntary assisted dying
- 16 Health care worker not to initiate discussion about voluntary assisted dying
- 19 Eligibility criteria for access to voluntary assisted dying
The amendments proposed will in substance: - Prevent care facilities from refusing to provide information about VAD in residential settings
- Permit health care workers to initiate a discussion about VAD with a person who they believe meets the eligibility criteria for VAD
- Allow a terminally ill person to access VAD without a 12-month prognosis timeframe restriction.
Dr Tanzil Rahman MLA said, “I am pleased to be part of a CLP Government that is progressing VAD legislation for Territorians, under a Chief Minister who is committed to allowing this bill to be adjudged by a conscience vote. I am moving these amendments in what I believe to be the best interest of Territorians, as a matter of conscience and consistent with best practice and scholarly evidence, to provide terminally ill people with freer access to information about VAD, and greater freedom to choose VAD when they are clearly dying and suffering.”