Cloning bill passes in Parliament
Health Minister John Hill has welcomed Parliament’s approval of the Statutes Amendment (Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction and Regulation of Research Involving Human Embryos) Bill, which mirrors changes already made to Commonwealth legislation.
In late 2006, the Commonwealth amended national legislation regulating human cloning and embryo research, following the findings of the Lockhart Review, which then required states and territories to amend their legislation.
The amendments included strong protections to prevent the misuse of embryos.
Under the Bill, human reproductive cloning would remain prohibited and research, testing and training using human eggs would continue to be stringently licensed and monitored. Minister Hill said South Australia’s laws in this area were out of step and had to be amended to make SA compliant with the national laws.
South Australian researchers - depending on where they work - could have been covered by either state or Commonwealth legislation, which meant there was a lack of consistency. “We had a situation where South Australian researchers regulated under the Commonwealth Act could get permission for research that wouldn’t have been permitted under SA’s laws’’ he said.
“This change in our legislation is what our scientific community called for and it brings us into line with other states.
“I’d like to thank all the members from all sides who have voted with their conscience and supported this Bill, and particularly the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Vickie Chapman, for her part in achieving today’s result.
”The amendments will give all South Australian researchers the confidence that wherever they conduct their work, they will be covered by the same legislation – whether it be state or Commonwealth laws.”
Prof. Rob Norman, Director of the Robinson Institute, welcomed the passage of the bill. “SA is the leader in reproductive research in Australia, and we have researchers in stem cell biology who are highly innovative and internationally competitive in their field. Our research proposals go to ethics committees which apply NH&MRC guidelines and the work is covered by both State and Federal Statutes - passing the Bill means that we can continue important research to develop cures for infertility, cancer, neurological and blood disorders.”
