The overwhelming majority of Australians believe the ACT should have the right to make laws on euthanasia, new research shows.
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After the ACT's three political parties banded together last week to demand the federal parliament repeal laws barring the territories from legislating on voluntary assisted dying, new polling suggests more than 75 per cent of Australians are on their side.
The national survey of 1400 people, commissioned by progressive think tank The Australia Institute, found support for a repeal of the so-called Andrews Bill was strong with voters across the political spectrum.
Support was strongest among Labor voters surveyed, with 80 per cent of respondents backing a restoration of territory rights.
About 77 per cent of Greens-leaning respondents supported the cause, a marginally higher proportion than Coalition (74 per cent supportive) and One Nation (73) voters.
The campaign to pressure the Morrison government over the legislation gathered momentum last week, with a rare tripartisan motion calling on federal parliament to bring forward a vote to repeal the bill by year's end passing the ACT Legislative Assembly.
By mid-2021, all states would have either passed legislation to enable voluntary assisted dying or have a bill before their parliament to do so.
"No Australian citizen should be disadvantaged or discriminated against with respect to their democratic or human rights on the basis of where they live," the motion read.
ACT Human Rights Minister Tara Cheyne warned the territory could take its case up to the United Nations if the federal government refused to revoke the law, which has been in force since 1997.
Ms Cheyne and NT Attorney-General Selena Uibo last month wrote to then-Attorney-General Christian Porter, describing the ban as untenable and inconsistent with Australia's human rights obligations.
The letter was also sent to Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Assistant Minister for Territories Nola Marino.
The Australia Institute's executive director Ben Oquist said the poll showed Australians believed the ACT parliament should be able to make its own laws on voluntary assisted dying.
"Canberra is a grown-up city. Citizens of the ACT deserve the same democratic rights afforded to Australians living in the six states," Mr Oquist said.
The poll also surveyed respondents on their attitude toward euthanasia, with 76 per cent agreeing with the principle that a person experiencing unrelievable suffering, who wants to die, should be able to seek doctors' assistance to help them do so.
"[This principle] is a question of humanity," Mr Oquist said.
"These results show the Australian community recognise this, and it is time for the Australian parliament to follow suit."
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