A PUSH to allow the Northern Territory and ACT to legislate for euthanasia has split a Senate inquiry, with Parliament set for a fresh battle over the issue.

Labor senators Patricia Crossin (NT), who chaired the inquiry, Linda Kirk (SA) and Gavin Marshall (Vic) said an amended version of Greens leader Bob Brown's private member's bill should proceed.

But Liberal senators Guy Barnett (Tas), Mary Jo Fisher (SA) and Russell Trood (Qld), together with Labor's John Hogg, who will be president of the new Senate, said the anti-euthanasia status quo should remain.

Democrat senator Andrew Bartlett said the bill should not proceed, urging a national framework be considered.

The co-operation of the states would be required for this as the Federal Parliament only has authority in the territories. Both sides promised a conscience vote on the bill but the crucial issue is whether the Government allocates time for the bill to be debated and voted on in both houses.

The Howard government gave time to Kevin Andrews' private member's legislation which overrode an NT law that had given the right of assisted death.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said the Brown bill would be treated in the same way as comparable legislation in the past, flagging the Government would give it time.

The euthanasia issue splits both main parties. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been opposed to its legalisation.

The Brown bill in its current form would repeal the Andrews legislation and revive the NT legislation that was overridden.

But the committee said it should not go ahead in that form, so Senator Brown immediately said his revamped bill would simply restore the rights of the territories to legislate on euthanasia.

The three senators supporting the bill "do not necessarily support legalisation of voluntary euthanasia" but stressed the right of territories to self government. without "arbitrary interference by the Commonwealth".

Source: Age (Melbourne)