Territory rights advocates are looking for a new way forward in their fight to remove restrictions on the ACT and Northern Territory's parliaments making laws on voluntary euthanasia, as the legal scheme gets under way in Victoria.
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From Wednesday, terminally ill Victorians will be able to access drugs to end their lives in strictly defined circumstances.
Western Australia will introduce a similar bill later this year, while Queensland is currently holding an end-of-life choices inquiry, like the ACT did last year.
But lawmakers in the ACT cannot debate or legislate on euthanasia due to federal legislation introduced to overturn the scheme introduced by the Northern Territory more than 20 years ago.
A push in the Senate to repeal the so-called Andrews Bill fell two votes short last year.
It is understood Canberra-based federal Labor MP Andrew Leigh will discuss paths forward with colleagues.
However it is unlikely the private member's bill he introduced into the lower house last year with Northern Territory Labor MP Luke Gosling will see the light of day, after the Coalition solidified its grip on the parliament.
In a statement, Mr Leigh said territorians "deserve to have [their] democratic voices heard".
"With Victoria today rolling out its historic legalised assisted dying scheme, it's important to remember that the people of the ACT and the Northern Territory are still being denied the chance to debate similar laws," Dr Leigh said.
"Last month marked 30 years since the Legislative Assembly first sat. In that time, the ACT has shown itself to be a thoughtful and engaged parliament - easily the equal of any Australian state. It's simply wrong that federal law denies Canberra's representatives from debating euthanasia.
"Whether you support or opposed voluntary assisted dying, it's time we let the ACT Assembly discuss it."
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the territory government would closely watch the implementation of the Victorian scheme.
He revealed he pledged to keep fighting to repeal the Andrews Bill in his first letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison since his re-election.
"We hope this can be dealt with as a priority in the new term of parliament and we will be actively engaging federal members of parliament from all parties to progress it," Mr Barr said.
"Last year Canberrans were let down by the Australian Parliament when the Senate rejected reforms that would have allowed the ACT and the Northern Territory to consider our own voluntary assisted dying legislation.
"The Victorian government has shown real courage and humanity in developing a scheme that improves end of life choices for terminally ill people while providing strong and effective safeguards.
"Canberrans deserve the right to make our own laws on end of life choices. This is a fundamental principle all ACT representatives should stand up for."
