Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) – a legal end-of-life option where eligible adults can request medical assistance to end their lives – is now lawful and operating across most of Australia. As of early 2026, all states and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) have enacted VAD laws, leaving only the Northern Territory (NT) without such legislation.
According to the End of Life Law in Australia project hosted by Queensland University of Technology (QUT), to access VAD, a person must meet the eligibility criteria specified in the relevant jurisdiction’s legislation and undergo a multi-step assessment process by trained medical practitioners.
In September last year, an NT parliamentary committee recommended that the territory introduce voluntary assisted dying and provided drafting instructions for a new bill. As 2026 began, the NT government confirmed it would table a VAD bill in mid-year, subject to a conscience vote in the Legislative Assembly.
If historic patterns hold, the bill is expected to pass, though NT-specific demographic and logistical factors – including its large geographic area and significant Indigenous population – may shape debate and implementation.
If passed, these laws would not take effect immediately. Based on experiences in other jurisdictions, territorial residents would likely only have access to VAD after systems are established, potentially in early 2028.
Jurisdictions with VAD laws currently impose residency requirements that limit access to people who have lived in that jurisdiction for a defined period, although exemptions sometimes apply. These requirements reflect the traditional state- and territory-based approach to VAD legislation.
Commonwealth law also includes provisions that effectively ban the use of telehealth for VAD consultations. This stems from earlier criminal laws concerning suicide and was not designed with VAD in mind. A legislative clarification could resolve this inconsistency, but it has yet to feature on the federal agenda.
Should the NT adopt VAD laws and the practice become available in every state and territory, the case for harmonising or modifying residency and telehealth barriers could gain traction.
Mandatory legislative reviews are underway or planned across multiple jurisdictions. Victoria was the first Australian state to legalise VAD in 2017, completed a review in late 2025 and passed amendments to its law. From April 2027, the Victorian framework will permit doctors to initiate discussions about VAD, extend terminal timeframes for eligibility, and require conscientiously objecting practitioners to provide information on VAD when asked.
Western Australia has concluded its first VAD review, recommending improvements to policy and practice to enhance access and support. In 2026, Tasmania, Queensland and New South Wales are scheduled to review their laws. Notably, the Queensland review will examine eligibility criteria – a topic not explicitly required in the Victorian or Western Australian processes.
Parliamentary debate on VAD policy is ongoing in some jurisdictions. In late 2025, the New South Wales parliament considered – but did not pass – a bill that would have allowed residential facilities with conscientious objections to prohibit VAD on their premises.
The End of Life Law in Australia resource explains that VAD typically involves either self-administration – where the eligible person takes the medication themselves – or practitioner administration, where a doctor, nurse practitioner or registered nurse administers the medication. In all jurisdictions with VAD laws, adults must demonstrate decision-making capacity and act voluntarily and without coercion throughout the process.
The website also situates VAD within the broader context of end-of-life law, noting intersections with palliative care and other medical decisions, such as withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment. These decisions are legal and regulated under separate frameworks across Australia and remain important components of end-of-life care.
Debate on expanding VAD eligibility criteria – particularly for people with conditions such as dementia – is expected to continue in 2026. Dementia is now the leading cause of death in Australia, and while jurisdictions generally exclude access for people without terminal prognosis, calls for reform raise complex ethical and legal questions.
Voluntary assisted dying is now lawful in most of Australia and soon may be available nationwide. The focus in 2026 is likely to shift toward refining systems and legislation through evidence-based analysis and public consultation to ensure that VAD remains both safe and accessible for eligible people.
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