1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: Well as we know, laws restricting the Act and the 2 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: Northern Territory from legislating on voluntary euthanasia have indeed been repealed. 3 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: After more than two decades of being in place. The 4 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: Restoring the Territory Rights Bill pass Parliament on Thursday night 5 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: last night, overturning legislation put forward by Liberal MP Kevin 6 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,959 Speaker 1: Andrews all the way back in nineteen ninety seven that 7 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: precluded the territories from being able to debate and pass 8 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: voluntary assisted dying laws. Now joining me on the line 9 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 1: is the COLP Senator for the Northern Territory, justa Enter Price. 10 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: Good morning to you. 11 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:36,880 Speaker 2: Good morning, Katie Jacent. 12 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: How are you feeling about the passing of the bill. 13 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 2: Oh, look, I'm happy for Territorians that the bill has 14 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:48,959 Speaker 2: been passed now. I voted in support of it. It's 15 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 2: been a whole huge learning experience for me, and you know, 16 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 2: understanding my position as a senator in the House of 17 00:00:55,480 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 2: Review and considering everything that comes before me, you know, 18 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:07,039 Speaker 2: across all arguments and all positions, and you know, my amendments, 19 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 2: my amendments that I put up prior to the final 20 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 2: vote of the bill didn't get up. But you know, 21 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 2: I thought hard, and it was for me, it was 22 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 2: about it was certainly not about taking away the rights 23 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 2: of Territori and to legislate. It was just about elevating 24 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 2: the rights, the human rights of our vulnerable, our children. 25 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 2: Those are the disability and those are the mental impairment. 26 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 2: So look, I'm happy that it's passed. I will be 27 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 2: calling on the territory government should at any stage, whoever 28 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 2: that government might be, whether it's the Labor government or 29 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 2: a Theopic government, to make sure that those provisions are 30 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 2: put in place to safeguard those vulnerable within our community 31 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 2: when they consider legislation for voluntary assisted dying. So I'll 32 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 2: get to. 33 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: That, Nisique, But I know that I've had a few 34 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: people messaging this morning asking did you support it in 35 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: the end, because my understanding is that there was obviously 36 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: the vote last week, that preliminary vote which you and 37 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: I spoke about last week, and then there were the 38 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 1: you know, the opportunity for those amendments to be put 39 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: forward last night. But was there another vote and did 40 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 1: you vote? 41 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 2: Yes, Yes, yes, there was another vote. I voted in 42 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 2: favor with Iron and that's what went through last night. 43 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 2: I guess last night there wasn't a call for a 44 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 2: division to count votes. So but yes, I was in favor. 45 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 2: I stated even prior to my amendment going to the 46 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 2: vote that I would be supporting the bill. So that's 47 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 2: that's how I voted. 48 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: Some people, you know, were really upsets with your stants 49 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: last week when we spoke to you about this. What 50 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:46,679 Speaker 1: do you say to those people who felt as though 51 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 1: you'd made the wrong move after we spoke to you 52 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 1: last week. 53 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 2: Well, looks as as my colleagues in the Senate acknowledge, 54 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 2: my position was to came from a good place in 55 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 2: terms of attempting to put forward those amendments. That's all 56 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 2: my aim was. That's all I wanted to be able 57 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 2: to do last week. It wasn't it wasn't actually part 58 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 2: of the agenda to bring it to the final vote. 59 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 2: It was always going to be last night on Thursday night, 60 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:21,920 Speaker 2: And my position was that my amendments had not been finalized, 61 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 2: and I wanted to be able to provide those amendments 62 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 2: for debate on the floor should the opportunity come up 63 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:31,079 Speaker 2: that they be supported. And obviously they didn't. And this 64 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:35,560 Speaker 2: is democracy at work, and you know, I'm perfectly okay 65 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 2: with that, I will be obviously keeping an eye on 66 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 2: things going forward, and you know, and being very vocal 67 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 2: about my concerns around vulnerable people, because with everything that 68 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 2: I do, they take priority, you know, with the decisions 69 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 2: that I make in Federal Parliament, it's the vulnerable people 70 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 2: of the Northern Territory that certainly take priority to me. 71 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: But for the record, Senator, for those out there listening, 72 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: who who were concerned or who are saying that you 73 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 1: voted against the bill, you voted yes with the bill 74 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: that you did want territory rights to, you know, for 75 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 1: us to be able to make our own decisions here 76 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: in the territory when it comes to voluntary assisted dying. 77 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:21,160 Speaker 2: Correct, that's right. I voted for it last night and 78 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 2: I state that quite clearly as well when delivering my speech. 79 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: Now, Senator, as you said, you did put forward those 80 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 1: amendments to impose, you know, some of those different caveates 81 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 1: on territories that would not allow those under the age 82 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 1: of eighteen. I believe you'd told us last week you 83 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 1: were concerned with but also like you've just touched on 84 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: people with disabilities and mental illness. Are you are you 85 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 1: satisfied that that young people and indeed those with disabilities 86 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: are going to be protected. 87 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 2: Well, I'll see that when the you know, legislation is 88 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 2: drafted in the Territory parliament. Wh you know, those safeguards 89 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 2: will be there other states and the provisions that I 90 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 2: put up have been passed by other states that have 91 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 2: voluntary assisted dying. So I would hope that, you know, 92 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 2: that would provide for a template for the Territory to 93 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 2: follow in ensuring those safeguards exist. So I guess it 94 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:24,159 Speaker 2: would be unusual if the Territory didn't provide those safeguards 95 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 2: going forward. And I'm sure, you know, if whatever government 96 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:32,720 Speaker 2: is in place has the interests of Territorians at heart, 97 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 2: and they all ensure that those safeguards are there. 98 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: Now I know the Act Chief Minister Andrew Barr revealed 99 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: last night or yesterday that the Act is going to 100 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:44,160 Speaker 1: look to legislate voluntary assisted dying within as soon as 101 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:47,719 Speaker 1: twelve months. He said, we will have a thorough and 102 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: engaged process and it will be a conscience vote. I 103 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 1: think it will bring out the best in the Act Parliament, 104 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 1: is what he'd said publicly yesterday. We had the Attorney 105 00:05:57,680 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: General Chancey Paig on the week that was the small 106 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:03,839 Speaker 1: and the Northern Territory government have got no plans to 107 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: push this through before the next Northern Territory election in 108 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:12,280 Speaker 1: August twenty twenty four. He says that they want to 109 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:16,919 Speaker 1: get through extensive consultation right around the territory. Do you 110 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 1: think that's the right move? 111 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 2: Extensive consultation is the right move, And hopefully they've learned 112 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 2: from the fact that there's been very little consultation with 113 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 2: the lifting of the alcohol bands in communities, and I 114 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:32,279 Speaker 2: know that I don't know, well, I don't know if 115 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 2: they're actually playing catch up with that, but I'm certainly 116 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 2: doing what I can from my position to in terms 117 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 2: of drafting my bill on the back of the fact 118 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 2: that I have had many many concerned community members bringing 119 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 2: me about the alcohol feel violence back out in their 120 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 2: communities again. So in the new year, I'll bring that 121 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 2: motion forward to present that private Senator's bill in the 122 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:03,919 Speaker 2: hope that really can establish some alcohol management plan and 123 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 2: until such time as that takes place, then the bands, 124 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 2: you know, I'm seeking for those bands to be maintain, 125 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 2: what to be booked back in place and maintained until 126 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 2: such time as some serious alcohol management planning has has 127 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 2: taken place, So yeah, I mean, you know, you can 128 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 2: say you're going to do something, but I guess the 129 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 2: proofs in the pudding. So it'll be interesting to see 130 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 2: what happens going forward and what happens at the next 131 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 2: territory election as well. 132 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, it will. It'll be interesting to see exactly, you know, 133 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: what consultation does take place with this, with the voluntary 134 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 1: assisted dying. There is a question, let's come through from 135 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 1: a listener, do you not trust the Northern Territory to 136 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: make those decisions to protect the vulnerable. This is in 137 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 1: relation to the voluntary assisted dying. 138 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 2: I have very little trust for the current files labor government. 139 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 2: I would have a lot of trust in earlier Finocchiaro 140 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 2: led DLP territory government, absolute trust in them, but right 141 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 2: now I don't have much trust in this Labor file government. 142 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 2: And considering that there have been members of the Labor 143 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 2: Party who have supported an individual within their ranks who's 144 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 2: been sentenced after child rape, well then that's another reason 145 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 2: for me to have very little trust. So I guess 146 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 2: that answers the question for that one. 147 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: Well, Senator, it's been a busy week, I'm sure, are 148 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 1: you guys done now for the year or have you 149 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 1: still got Are there still sitting days now in Canberra? 150 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 1: Are you all finished? 151 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 2: So sitting days are over, but we still have some 152 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,680 Speaker 2: committee work to finalize for the end of the year, 153 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 2: so that work's got to be done worked, not over 154 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 2: just yet. I'm looking forward to it though. 155 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:51,560 Speaker 1: It's been a busy one, no doubt about it. Well, 156 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: we'll probably catch up with you before the year's end anyway, 157 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: appreciate your time this morning, Thanks for. 158 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 2: Coming on, no worries, Thank you very much. 159 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:00,040 Speaker 1: Thank you.