Health Care Decision Making Legislation

The Health Care Decision Making Bill 2023 was passed by the Northern Territory Parliament on 26 July 2023 and is expected to commence operation mid-2024.

The new Health Care Decision Making legislation will:

• Address a gap in Northern Territory law concerning health care decision making for people who have lost some or all of their capacity to make health care decisions
• Establish principles for making health care decisions that prioritise an individuals expressed wishes
• Set out a hierarchy of alternative health care decision makers including family and close friends which includes formal recognition of First Nations kinship
• Provide an alternative to formal guardianship for health care decisions 

The Bill can be viewed here - Link to the Health Care Decision Making Bill 2023

Extensive public consultation in 2019 and 2023 informed the drafting of the new legislation. Prior to commencement further information will be made available to support those impacted by the changes.

If you have any questions, please email pgt@nt.gov.au