The world’s first voluntary assisted dying law to be enacted and used was passed in Australia’s Northern Territory – only to be overturned months later by the Federal Parliament. The man behind that historic legislation is Marshall Perron. As Chief Minister of the Northern Territory from 1988 to 1995, he introduced the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act, a groundbreaking and controversial step forward in end-of-life choice. 

The law was overturned by the Australian Federal Parliament in March 1997 through the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997, which removed the power of territories (like the Northern Territory) to legislate on euthanasia. 

For the first time publicly, Marshall Perron shares his thoughts on the process: the political determination it required, the national and international fallout, and the personal decision to resign before the final vote. He also shares his disappointment that the Territory – once a pioneer – remains the only jurisdiction in Australia without VAD laws. 

NTVES (Northern Territory Voluntary Euthanasia Society)
https://ntves.org.au/ 

COTA NT (Council on the Ageing, Northern Territory)
https://www.cotant.org.au/

Northern Territory Government – Parliamentary (Committees / Legal & Constitutional Affairs) 

More information on into “Voluntary Assisted Dying in the Northern Territory – Second Interim Report, September 2025” https://parliament.nt.gov.au/committees/list/legal-and-constitutional-affairs-committee/VAD 

Comprehensive information on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Your State is provided on the Go Gentle website at https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_your_state or by contacting your State Health Department. 

If listening to this podcast raises distressing issues for you, please contact one of the following support services:
Griefline (https://griefline.org.au/) 1300 845 745
Grief Australia (https://www.grief.org.au/) 1800 642 745 
Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/) 13 11 14, or chat online 24 hours a day 

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