The vast majority of Australians (76%) support the Commonwealth allowing Territory Governments to legislate to legalise voluntary assisted dying within their jurisdictions.

The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,434 Australians about their attitudes to voluntary assisted dying.

Key findings:

• Three in four Australians (76%) support the Commonwealth allowing Territory Governments to legalise voluntary assisted dying within their jurisdictions.
• Overwhelming support across all voting intentions for Territory Governments to legalise voluntary assisted dying within their jurisdictions. Coalition voters 74% support, 18% oppose; Labor voters 80% support, 12% oppose; Greens voters 77% support, 15% oppose; One Nation voters 73% support, 14% oppose; and Other voters 67% support, 18% oppose.
• Three in four Australians (76%) agree with the principle that a person experiencing unrelievable suffering who asks to die should be allowed to receive the assistance of a doctor to do so.

“This research backs in the ACT Legislative Assembly’s tripartisan motion passed this week. The majority of Australians support the Federal Parliament giving back Territory rights on legislating voluntary assisted dying,” said Ben Oquist, executive director of the Australia Institute.

“Canberra is a grown up city, citizens of the ACT deserve the same democratic rights afforded to Australians living in the six states.

“The principle that a person experiencing unrelievable suffering who asks to die should be allowed to receive the assistance of a doctor to do so is a question of humanity. These results show the Australian community recognise this, and it is time for the Australian Parliament to follow suit.”