Cloning and Stem Cell Research
2005: Review of
Legislation
The Lockhart Committee is reviewing
the legislation on cloning and embryo stem cell research that was passed by the
federal governemnt in 2002 (see below). Submissions were due by 9 September and
a report is due to Parliament by mid-December 2005.
Click here for
the Lockhart Committee website.
Click here for the Australian
government's 'Bioethics'
portal.
______________________________________________
Australian
Commonwealth
legislation...
During 2002, the Australian federal government considered
legislation relating to stem cell research involving the use of embryos, and also human cloning.
Both Houses voted to ban human cloning (reproductive, ie
resulting in the birth of a child)
Embryo Stem Cell
research:
House of
Representatives Vote: the House of Representatives voted to allow
research on embryos on 25 September 2002. The vote was 99 in favour, 33 opposed.
For a full list of how the MPs voted, see the list attached below
"House of Representatives vote 25 Sept 2002".
Senate: The
Senate sent the bill to an Inquiry. The Senate received the report from the
Inquiry on 24 October 2002.
The Senate then voted on the Bill. A
majority of Senators supported the legislation to allow embryos to be used for
stem cell research. This applies only to embryos created prior to 5 April 2002.
Embryos cannot be created for the purpose of using them for stem cell research.
However, researchers have already said they want to move further.
At November 2004, several licences have already
been granted for research using embryos.
Website:
The website
www.stemcellresearch.org provides up
to date information on successful research using ADULT Stem
cells.
2002 Campaign
Following is the material
prepared during the 2002 debate and campaign on this
issue.
16 July - NEW articles
Contact your 12 Senators NOW!!!
Click
here for suggested action. The
Senate will receive the report from the Inquiry on 24 October 2002.
added:
* Briefing Note on Adult Stem Cells
(including some comparisons with embryonic stem cells) by Dr Greg Pike
of the Southern Cross Bioethics Institute
* Embryonic Stem Cell
Research and Cloning - kit from Guy Barnett, Liberal Senator for
Tasmania
* A
copy of the proposed legislation
Cloning and stem cell research
have been in the news ever since Dolly the sheep was 'cloned' in
Scotland.
Some scientists say that embryonic stem cells are important because they
have the ability to differentiate into a variety of cell types. They claim
that embryonic stem cells can provide cures to a variety of illnesses - but such
cures have not yet been developed. Some scientists argue that surplus embryos
left over from IVF procedures could be used since they 'will be destroyed
anyway'.
For Christians, the important factor is that when stem cells are
harvested from an embryo the embryo is destroyed or killed.
Adult Stem Cells are the best
solution
The best news is that a lot of recent research has found that adult stem
cells can be harvested from, say, bone marrow, and these are able to change into
other cells. Since the cells would be taken from the person's own body, they
would not be rejected if used as a cure and they do not pose cause ethical
problems.
Government decision
The Prime Minister announced that the government will support limited embryos stem
cell research using 'excess embryos' from IVF programs. His restrictions
included: parents must give consent for their embryos to be used for research,
only existing embryos can be used and the program would be reviewed in 3 years.
[The majority on the Parliament Committee that reported on stem cell research in
2001AD recommended that surplus IVF embryos could be used for research - a
position we disagree with.]
The federal government met with the States at the
Council of Australian Governments meeting (COAG) on 5 April 2002 AD to discuss
this matter. They supported this proposal but reduced the restrictions slightly.
The "COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS -
COMMUNIQUE" sets out the agreed outcomes from the meeting.
We believe that there should be a total ban on using embryos for stem
cell research, including embryos from IVF programs. There should also be a ban
on cloning technology (such as somatic cell nuclear transfer) used for such
purposes as well as a ban on cloning an actual human.
Proposed Legislation:
The government has introduced proposed legislation called
the Research Involving Embryos and Prohibition of Human Cloning
Bill (it is attached below).
It is IMPORTANT that we write to our MPs - ask them to vote against the Bill.
Click here for suggested action.
Articles and resources
Some NEW articles
(added 16 July 2002):
* Briefing Note on Adult
Stem Cells (including some comparisons with embryonic stem cells) by Dr
Greg Pike of the Southern Cross Bioethics Institute.
Key information on adult and embryonic stem cells from
a research scientist.
* Embryonic Stem Cell
Research and Cloning - A 46 page Information Kit from Guy Barnett, Liberal Senator for
Tasmania. Useful articles and information from one of the MPs fighting
against using embryo stem cells.
* A copy of the proposed
legislation.
The following articles
are attached below:
* Keep Stem Cells Adult Only - April 2002 AD.
* The Stem Cell Debate - a new article (April 10, 2002AD)
from Bill Muehlenberg.
* The Full Story on Stem Cells by Marcia Riordan (April 2002
AD Journal).
* Why Therapeutic Cloning is Ethically Unsound by Dr Greg
Pike.
* Adult Stem Cells by Dr Greg Pike.
The remaining articles below are our recent letters/submissions to MPs. Use
them for information to write your own letters.
Website:
The website
www.stemcellresearch.org provides up
to date information on successful research using ADULT Stem
cells. Author: Jenny Stokes | Modified: 31 January 2008 |
