The Act was passed by the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly on 25 May 1995 by a vote of 15 to 10, received the Administrator's assent on 16 June 1995, and entered into force on 1 July 1996.

[4] The Act allowed a terminally ill patient to end their life with medical assistance, either by the direct involvement of a physician or by procurement of drugs.

The Act set out a somewhat lengthy application process, designed to ensure that a patient was both mentally competent to make the decision and in fact terminally ill.

Before the federal override occurred, three people died through physician assisted suicide under the legislation, aided by Dr Philip Nitschke.

Dent was a prostate cancer sufferer who became Australia's first person to lawfully end his life by means of physician assisted suicide.

Dent, who had been suffering from prostate cancer for five years in what he called "a rollercoaster of pain", left an open letter when he died that stated: "If I were to keep a pet animal in the same condition I am in, I would be prosecuted.

Views in the rest of Australia were much less supportive, however, and opponents began demanding that the federal parliament overturn the law, which it had the power to do since the Northern Territory does not have the same standing in Australian jurisprudence as the states.

The Act technically remains in force in the Territory, but has been essentially made null and void and has no legal effect.

[14] In September 2023, Northern Territory chief minister Natasha Fyles formed a panel to take public inquiries regarding euthanasia laws.