Overall, 68 per cent of the 1004 people surveyed found support for either both territories - or separately just the NT - being returned the ability to legislate on voluntary assisted dying.

Sixty per cent of those polled by progressive think tank The Australia Institute backed a move for both territories - essentially representing a repeal of the so-called Andrews Bill from 1995 that barred both the ACT and NT from legislating on voluntary assisted dying.

It comes after a week in which Country Liberal Senator Sam McMahon introduced a bill focusing on the Northern Territory seeking to restore the NT's powers to make its own voluntary euthanasia laws.

"I put it at this huge support from across Australia in giving both the ACT and Northern Territory their democratic rights," The Australia Institute's executive director Ben Oquist told The Canberra Times.

"You would expect the Canberra community to want itself to have a democratic right but what this shows is that the Australian community wants it, too.

"[This is] is particularly important because it is a decision of the Federal Parliament and overturning the Kevin Andrews legislation obviously requires a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, made up of MPs from across the country."

The result is slightly down on a similar survey on the issue by The Australia Institute in April which found 75 per cent of respondents backed a restoration of territory rights. The earlier survey only asked about support for restoring the rights of both territories, rather than either or both territories.

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Mr Oquist believed this difference contributed to a stronger 'don't know or not sure' response, but he said the result was still a solid nationwide backing of full territory rights.

"With such strong support from the Australian community, you would hope this could translate into votes from their elected representatives to deliver that right for the ACT and the Northern Territory," he said.

Support remained strongest among Labor voters, with 65 per cent of respondents backing a restoration of rights for both territories and 5 per cent for just the NT.

There was a strong result for every voter intention. Not far behind Labor voters was the result for Coalition voters, with 59 per cent of those polled backing a repeal of the Andrews Bill and 9 per cent supporting a restoration of rights for just the NT. Sixty-three per cent of Greens and 57 per cent of One Nation voters supported both the ACT and NT being allowed to make their laws on voluntary euthanasia.

"I think it says to all political parties, including the Coalition, to not support the territory having its democratic rights puts you offside with your constituency, " Mr Oquist said.

"It's remarkable how evenly spread the support is for giving the territories their rights to legalise voluntary assisted dying."

Senator McMahon said the door remained open for the ACT to be included in her bill if it progressed to debate. She admitted she felt sorry for Canberrans.

Mr Oquist said his institute's poll results indicated the two territories should get the same treatment.

"I think it says a bill that sought to give rights to only one territory, and the smaller territory by population, will be perceived dimly by the public," he said.

"It would really be seen to be playing as favourites. And there's an instinctive reaction against such a proposal and the polling demonstrates it really has very little support."

The survey also found older Australians were more likely to support allowing the ACT and NT to legalise voluntary assisted dying.

Sixty-seven per cent of people aged 50 or older supported the move. However, 49 per cent of the youngest age group of adults under 30 years backed a restoration of rights for both territories and 11 per cent for just the NT.

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