Queensland's state parliament voted in favour of legalising laws that would allow people the choice to end their lives if they have a terminal illness that was expected to cause death within a year.

Queensland is the fifth Australian state to pass laws to legalise voluntary assisted dying.

Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania have all passed similar laws.

However, the ACT and Northern Territory are barred from creating its own laws under the federal government's so-called Andrews bills.

The territories have fought heavily to have the bill overturned, which was put in place 24 years ago after the NT passed laws. No other states had laws in place at that stage.

ACT Senator Katy Gallagher said the passing of the Queensland legislation showed how unfair the laws were.

"The new laws in Queensland are yet another reminder of why we have to continue to fight to overturn this unfair and undemocratic federal legislation," she said.

ACT Human Rights Minister Tara Cheyne said it was frustrating the federal government had refused to move on the issue.

Ms Cheyne, who was born in Queensland, said she experienced a "strange mix of emotions" as her home state passed the laws while the ACT was unable to do so.

"The lack of movement from the Commonwealth government on this is very disappointing," she said.

"And now with the vast majority of the Australian population having access to voluntary assisted dying, when these laws come into effect, I think we're really starting to hear the frustration become more and more palpable in the ACT and Northern Territory communities."

Ms Cheyne and the NT Attorney-General Selena Uibo accused the federal government of breaching international laws over its refusal to allowed the territories to decide whether voluntary euthanasia should be legalised.

The pair sent a letter to senior ministers in March but Ms Cheyne said a response had still not been received.

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In the meantime, NT Country Liberal Senator Sam McMahon has introduced a bill to the Federal Parliament that would restore the rights of the NT to legislate on voluntary assisted dying. Senator McMahon excluded the ACT from the bill after her colleague ACT Senator Zed Seselja signalled he would not support it.

The bill was referred to a committee which is expected to release its report on the bill on October 6.

Ms Cheyne said she and Chief Minister Andrew Barr sent a submission to the inquiry saying if the bill was to be considered the ACT needed to be included.

The Canberra Times recently surveyed all 151 federal members and 76 senators on whether they would support a repeal of the Andrews Bill. Of the 52 who replied, 35 gave unconditional support, while seven were opposed. The remainder either expressed in-principle support or wanted to consider their position at a later date.

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