Fed: States likely to allow surrogacy: Ruddock

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-2007
Fed: States likely to allow surrogacy: Ruddock

CANBERRA, April 8 AAP - The states are likely to allow the use of surrogate mothers
as a result of moves to adopt uniform national legislation, Attorney-General Philip Ruddock
says.

Mr Ruddock is pushing for the states to harmonise surrogacy laws, but said he had not
tried to tell the states what their arrangements should be.

Asked whether it was possible that the states would chose uniform laws that prevented
Australians using surrogacy, Mr Ruddock said: "I suspect that won't be the outcome."

"I'll leave it to the states to speak as to what form it should take," he said.

"But I have seen some of the reporting of it and it suggests that the more likely harmonised
approach is one in which there will be sensible legislation to allow surrogacy in appropriate
circumstances."

Mr Ruddock today said Labor Senator Stephen Conroy's trip interstate in order to have
a baby using a surrogate mother "makes the law an ass".

Senator Conroy and his wife, Paula Benson, conceived using an egg donated by a friend
and fertilised by his sperm, which was implanted in another friend, who carried the baby
to term.

The couple went to Sydney for the procedure because of obstacles under Victorian laws,
including a requirement that the surrogate be infertile (infertile).

Only NSW and the ACT permit surrogacy.

Mr Ruddock said the laws should be the same in each state to eliminate couples "forum
shopping" for laws that suit their needs.

A discussion paper on the issue will be presented at a meeting of the Standing Committee
of Attorneys-General this week.

The states and territories agreed to work towards harmonising the laws at the last
meeting in November.

Mr Ruddock said national sperm and embryo donor registers would also be on the agenda
for the meeting.

It is important to ensure donor registers are accurate so children born using sperm
donations can trace their genetic heritage, Mr Ruddock said.

"I think it's important.... so that they are able to enter into relationships and not
face the difficulty they might be marrying or entering in some other form of relationship
with a step-brother or step-sister," he said.

AAP jb/jl/

KEYWORD: SURROGACY

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