The Federal Labor Government has agreed to allow a conscience vote on a bill that would overturn the federal ban on voluntary assisted dying laws for the Northern Territory.

The private member’s bill to “restore Territory rights” is expected to be introduced next Monday in the Lower House by Member for Solomon Luke Gosling after it was agreed to in the Labor caucus room yesterday, The Guardian reported.

The paper quoted Labor sources saying they are confident the bill will pass the House of Representatives and the Senate, but did not provide any timeline for when the party would like to see it progressed through the Lower House.

The legislation would reverse the Howard Government’s 1997 decision to ban the NT’s assisted dying laws which were passed in 1995.

Newly elected Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour told The Guardian last night that while she personally backs the bill, the government needs to undertake a comprehensive “education campaign” on the issue of euthanasia, raising concerns about how Indigenous communities might respond to the ban being lifted.

“What I will be calling on is for a comprehensive and in-depth education campaign on this debate,” she said.

“Many people out bush have not been properly and appropriately informed about what voluntary assisted dying means, they don’t trust the system and they are scared of what this means.”

If the bill passes, the issues of assisted dying laws would then be put back to the NT Parliament to consider and draft legislation.

“This is an issue for the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly,” Ms Scrymgour said. “I strongly believe that the NTLA is capable and mature enough to have the debate.

“The Territory deserves the right to legislate on issues that affect it – just like the states do.”

Crossbench parties including the Greens, One Nation, United Australia Party and the Jacquie Lambie Network have all previously indicated their support for the bill to restore both the NT’s and the ACT’s rights on assisted dying laws.