TERRITORIES' RIGHTS ON EUTHANASIA
WHAT THE BILL BEFORE THE SENATE WOULD DO
* Crossbench senator David Leyonhjelm's private bill would give the Northern Territory and ACT the ability to make their own laws on voluntary assisted dying.
* It would repeal a 1997 federal law that banned the ACT and NT from legislating on euthanasia.
THE CASE FOR
* Territories should have the same rights as states to make laws.
* Terminally ill people deserve the right to die with dignity on their own terms.
* Euthanasia laws have strict checks and balances to protect vulnerable people.
THE CASE AGAINST
* The bill would lead to assisted suicide becoming legal in the ACT and NT.
* It is more about legalising euthanasia than territories' rights.
* It's a slippery slope that could lead to involuntary state-sanctioned killing.
WHY PARLIAMENT IS DEBATING IT
* Leyonhjelm insists he struck a deal with Malcolm Turnbull to debate and vote on the bill in both chambers of parliament.
* The prime minister denies the agreement, which Leyonhjelm says was in exchange for his vote on re-establishing the construction watchdog.
* Liberal MP Kevin Andrews, who was behind the 1997 law to ban territories' rights on euthanasia, says he's been assured the House won't debate it.
* Leyonhjelm is confident there is enough support for the bill to pass the Senate.
