AUSTRALIA: AUSTRALIA'S PARLIAMENT ALLOWS A BILL WHICH WILL ALLOW RESEARCH ON HUMAN EMBROYS

Record ID: 645738

  • Title: AUSTRALIA: AUSTRALIA'S PARLIAMENT ALLOWS A BILL WHICH WILL ALLOW RESEARCH ON HUMAN EMBROYS
  • Date: 5th December 2002
  • Summary: (U3) ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA (FILE) (REUTERS) SV/MCU/CU STEM CELL RESEARCHER (3 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 20th December 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CANBERRA, SYDNEY AND ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA
  • Country: Australia
  • Topics: General,Health,Politics,Science
  • Reuters ID: LVA1RSDP9K4V4E720C339AFCWREK
  • Story Text: Australia's parliament gave the green light on Thursday to medical research on human embryos after the upper house Senate agreed to impose strict guidelines on research and limit the stem cell lines which can be used.
    Australian Senators today voted 45 to 26 to support a bill which will allow research on surplus IVF embryos.
    The legislation passed the House of Representatives, but will have to return to the lower house because senators amended the original bill, introduced by Prime Minister John Howard in June.
    The bill allows stem cells to be taken from about 70 000 spare embryos created for in-vitro fertility treatment.
    In April, Mr Howard struck agreement with the states and territories, which will now have to pass complementary legislation, for a nationally consistent approach to the issue.
    Howard, who had supported the legislation in a conscience vote, announced the passing of the legislation to journalists outside Parliament.
    Howard said he was happy with the result. "I searched my own conscience very carefully on it, before coming to the conclusion that I did, but - having reached that conclusion - I have no doubt we have done the right thing," he said.
    Some senators objected to a gag which ended 46 hours of debate on the bill in the Senate.
    Independant Senator Brian Harradine condemned the result.
    "It will be the first time that this country has given a licence to kill," he said.
    Because of the controversy, party leaders allowed members in both houses to vote by conscience, rather than on party lines.
    Advocates believe this research could help find cures for diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Opponents argue that it is tantamount to killing a human being, since the embryo will die in the process.
    Stem cells can transform into other types of human cell, offering the chance to regenerate damaged organs or tissue.
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