Yes to Stem Cell Bills: Supplementary Report

Media Statement - 24 October 2002

Labor Senator for Queensland Jan McLucas today welcomed the release of the Senate report on the Research Involving Embryos Bill 2002 and the Prohibition of Human Cloning Bill 2002 and encourages the Senate and the community to support the Legislation.

Senator McLucas joined with Senator Ruth Webber (Labor, WA) and Senator Stott-Despoja (Dem, SA) in a supplementary report supporting the passage of the Bills.

"The Chair's Report is a balanced explanation of the proceedings of the inquiry. The intention of our Supplementary Report in favour of the legislation is to add further analysis and discussion and to recommend that the Bills be supported," said Senator McLucas.

"This legislation is a sensible response to the ethical questions raised by the use of human embryos in research. It bans human cloning, while at the same time puts in place safeguards that will ensure that research on excess assisted reproductive technology (ART) embryos which would otherwise be destroyed is effectively licensed and regulated.

"The legislation enacts the COAG communiqué of 5^th April 2002 and as such is truly national legislation representing the agreed response of the Federal Government and all State and Territory Governments.

"The National Health and Medical Research Council will establish a licensing committee that will assess applications for research involving use of human embryos.

"It is important to recognise that strong consent provisions exist within the Bill ensuring that donors understand and approve of the research being carried out.

"Research that will damage or destroy the embryo can only be carried out on embryos created before the 5^th of April this year. The Bill prevents the creation of embryos specifically for research purposes.

"It has been suggested that research on embryonic stem cells is not necessary because research on adult stem cells can achieve the same outcome.

"The committee heard evidence from both embryonic and adult stem cell researchers that both forms of research were in fact necessary. There are strong synergies between the two streams of research and there is no basis in science for discounting embryonic stem cell research in favour of adult stem cell research.

"This legislation raises serious ethical issues that are being widely discussed in the community. It is important that when a debate such as this occurs that the community can access information that explores the issue in a balanced way. This discussion could be supported by the establishment of an entity such as the National Bioethics Commission as proposed by the Leader of the Opposition, Simon Crean," Senator McLucas concluded.