September 21, 2026
30 Years since World’s First Legal, Lethal, Voluntary Injection
This week on 22 September marks 30 Years since Bob Dent became the first person in the world to receive a legal, lethal, voluntary injection.
Bob’s death on 22 September 1996 was enabled thanks to the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act of the Northern Territory.
This law lasted 9 months before the Federal Parliament of Australia overturned the Act. It would be another 20 years before the State of Victoria passed their voluntary assisted dying act.
Read more of the Bob Dent story on the Exit website, and also of the cruel failure of Broken Hill taxi driver Max Bell.
In Canberra this week, Exit held a 30th Anniversary of the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act Conference.
The Conference report will follow next newsletter. Exit thanks the organising team and all those who attended for making the event such a success and so memorable.
A very fitting way to remember this momentous time in Australian and world right to die history.
Canberra Conference, 21-22 September 2026