Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is now legal in every Australian state and the ACT, with the Northern Territory the only jurisdiction yet to pass laws allowing the practice.
VAD allows eligible adults to request medical assistance to end their lives. Each state and territory has strict eligibility rules and a multi-step assessment process carried out by trained medical practitioners.
Last year, an NT parliamentary committee recommended the territory introduce VAD laws. The NT government has confirmed it will introduce a bill mid-year, with MPs to have a conscience vote.
If the bill passes, the laws would not take effect straight away. In other states, it has taken many months to set up systems and safeguards, meaning access in the NT may not begin until early 2028.
Current laws also limit access through residency requirements, meaning people must usually have lived in the state or territory for a set period.
In addition, Commonwealth laws restrict the use of telehealth for VAD consultations – a rule that stems from older criminal laws relating to suicide and has not yet been updated.
Several states are reviewing their laws. Victoria, which first legalised VAD in 2017, has passed amendments that from April 2027 will allow doctors to raise VAD with patients and expand some eligibility settings. Western Australia has completed its first review, while Queensland, Tasmania and New South Wales will review their laws in 2026.
Under VAD laws, a person must have decision-making capacity and act voluntarily. The process may involve self-administration of medication or administration by a doctor or nurse.
Debate is expected to continue this year, particularly around eligibility criteria. Dementia is now the leading cause of death in Australia, but most current laws require a terminal prognosis, meaning many people with dementia do not qualify.
If the Northern Territory passes its bill, voluntary assisted dying would be legal nationwide, shifting the focus from introduction to how the laws operate in practice.
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