PM open to debate on legalising euthanasia

THE terminally ill could be granted the right to die after Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard backed a conscience vote on restoring the authority of territories to legalise euthanasia.

Fourteen years after the Northern Territory became the first place in the world to legalise euthanasia - only to be overridden nine months later by the Howard government - Greens leader Bob Brown pledged his first priority would be a bill to restore the territories' power to pass euthanasia laws.

''This won't bring in euthanasia, but it will restore the rights of the territorians to be able to legislate for euthanasia the same as everyone in the states,'' Senator Brown, a former GP, told Channel Ten.