Two federal Labor MPs have moved to overturn restrictions on the ACT and Northern Territory legalising euthanasia after the Senate voted against it.
Andrew Leigh from the ACT and Luke Gosling from the Northern Territory, who have opposing views on assisted dying, are co-sponsoring a bill to restore the right of territories to legislate on euthanasia.
Dr Leigh supports euthanasia while Mr Gosling opposes it.
"The result in the Senate entrenches a system that treats Australians who live in territories as second class citizens," Mr Gosling told the lower house on Monday.
"This is a bill to correct the wrong, to openly correct a system that openly discriminates against Territorians."
Liberal Democrats senator David Leyonhjelm's private bill to restore their rights to legislate on assisted dying was narrowly defeated in the upper house on Wednesday by 36-34.
Both bills aim to repeal Liberal MP Kevin Andrews' successful 1997 private bill banning territories from ruling on voluntary euthanasia.
It was argued then that the territories were "too immature", but Dr Leigh said that was no longer relevant, particularly as Victoria had since become the first state to legislate assisted dying.
"Back in 1997 when Kevin Andrews passed his private member's bill, the ACT assembly was just nine years old," he said.
"Just a kid, attending primary school. Now it's grown up, left home and shown itself to be a mature debating chamber."
Dr Leigh singled out Liberal ACT Senator Zed Seselja, who voted against the bill last week as he does not support euthanasia.
"Shame for not standing up for your representatives," Dr Leigh said.
Cabinet ministers were divided on the issue last week after both major parties were given a conscience vote in the upper house.
