In the news

Agreement has been reached between the Australian Prime Minister and the leaders of Australia’s eight States and Territories to enact national legislation that would allow embryonic stem cell research using ‘spare’ IVF embryos that would otherwise be destroyed. However, a compromise had to be struck between the conservative Prime Minister, who favoured allowing research only on embryos already in existence on 5 April 2002, and the more liberal State Premiers, who objected to this restriction. The compromise agreement imposes this restriction for an initial year, during which an ethics committee will develop safeguards to ensure that embryos cannot be created solely for the purpose of research. If national agreement cannot be reached on these safeguards, the restriction would automatically expire after three years and the whole matter would have to be reconsidered. The law would also make it mandatory to seek the consent of couples donating embryos for research. Members of Australia’s State Parliaments and Federal Parliament will have a free vote on the proposed legislation, which is expected to be passed, but not without strong opposition from some church groups