Labor and the Greens used their numbers in the ACT parliament on Thursday to a quash a line in the terms of reference for the end-of-life choices committee that had prevented parliamentarians involved in the inquiry speaking out ahead of the Senate debate on Andrews Bill.

That inquiry began last November and was tasked, in part, with looking at the Commonwealth restrictions that prevent the ACT and Northern Territory making assisted dying laws, introduced by Liberal backbencher Kevin Andrews in 1996.

Traditionally, committee members aren't allowed to speak about issues they are exploring in an inquiry as they can find themselves in contempt of parliament.

However the federal parliament will soon reexamine the restrictions, for what could be the best chance in decades to repeal the legislation.

A private members bill from Liberal Democrats Senator David Leyonhjelm to repeal Andrews Bill will take precedence over other business when the Senate reconvenes on August 14.

ACT Labor backbencher Tara Cheyne said the Leyonhjelm bill was probably the best chance the ACT had at having its rights restored.

“That five members of this place can’t speak of their home, can’t speak about the rights of where they live, can’t speak about the rights that should be afforded in this place simply because of one line in a committee’s terms of reference is frankly silly," Ms Cheyne said.

However Liberal politicians Vicki Dunne and Elizabeth Kikkert - who are also on the inquiry - said they'd been blindsided by the removal of the gag.

Both are members of party's conservative faction, and said Ms Cheyne - a vocal supporter of voluntary assisted dying laws - had "hijacked" the committee for her own ends.

"To be honest I’m offended," Mrs Kikkert said.

Mrs Dunne said the standing orders were broad enough that committee members could speak publicly on issues they were passionate about, so long as they didn't divulge private deliberations.

However Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said the threat of contempt had been bandied about from both sides of the chamber to prevent people on committees speaking about various issues.

After the gag was lifted, the entire Labor backbench and Greens crossbencher Caroline Le Couteur used the adjournment debate to call on their federal colleagues to help overturn the voting restrictions.

Labor's Chris Steel, who was not on the committee, said Andrews Bill meant Canberrans' votes meant less than other Australians and that needed to be overturned.

"Members in the federal parliament who represent Menzies or Hasluck ... may have a genuine interest in the territory and what happens here but they do not live here.

"Over 30 years of this place being in existence we have demonstrated we can have a mature and respectful discussion about a whole range of different matters and that should include voluntary assisted dying as well."

Labor's Michael Pettersson said the law had created a two-tied system where people were diminished in their decision-making because of their postcode.

"I don't think anyone seriously holds the belief that people in the ACT or the NT  are less cognisant with political discourse or the magnitude of their decision-making but our laws do," Mr Pettersson said.