Commonwealth Numbered Acts

EUTHANASIA LAWS ACT 1997 No. 17 of 1997 - SCHEDULE 1

Schedule 1-Amendment of the Northern Territory 
(Self-Government) Act 1978  1 After section 50 Insert 50A Laws concerning
euthanasia

(1) Subject to this section the power of the Legislative Assembly conferred by
section 6 in relation to the making of laws does not extend to the making of
laws which permit or have the effect of permitting (whether subject to
conditions or not) the form of intentional killing of another called
euthanasia (which includes mercy killing) or the assisting of a person to
terminate his or her life.

(2) The Legislative Assembly does have power to make laws with respect to:

   (a)  the withdrawal or withholding of medical or surgical measures for
        prolonging the life of a patient but not so as to permit the
        intentional killing of the patient; and

   (b)  medical treatment in the provision of palliative care to a dying
        patient, but not so as to permit the intentional killing of the
        patient; and

   (c)  the appointment of an agent by a patient who is authorised to make
        decisions about the withdrawal or withholding of treatment; and

   (d)  the repealing of legal sanctions against attempted suicide. 2
        Application
For the avoidance of doubt, the enactment of the Legislative Assembly called
the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995 has no force or effect as a law of
the Territory, except as regards the lawfulness or validity of anything done
in accordance therewith prior to the commencement of this Act.