Issues in the News

Australian Legislation:
Cloning and Stem Cell Legislation Review 2005-06

December 2004 - December 2005

Legislation Review Committee's Final Report

19 December 2005 - The Lockhart Review Committee has now completed its review of the Prohibition of Human Cloning Act 2002 and the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002. The final reports were presented to the Minister for Ageing, the Hon Julie Bishop MP today.

Media Release [pdf 143kb]
The reports can be downloaded from the Review Homepage: http://www.lockhartreview.com.au/

For a collection of various media responses to the Lockhart Review reports, click here.

Legislation Review Committee's Call for Submissions

9 July 2005 - Written submissions were called for in an advertisement published in major Australian newspapers on Saturday for the "Lockhart Review" of the Australian Cloning and Embryo Research Acts.
http://www.lockhartreview.com.au/public/content/
ViewCategory.aspx?id=12

Independent Review of Human Cloning and Embryo Research Legislation Announced

17 June 2005 - The NHMRC has announced that the committee will be chaired by retired Federal Court Judge, Justice John Lockhart AO QC. Other members are Associate Professor Ian Kerridge, a clinical ethicist; Professor Barry Marshall, a specialist gastroenterologist and community advocate; Professor Loane Skene, a lawyer and ethicist; Professor Peter Schofield, a neuroscientist; and Associate Professor Pamela McCombe, a clinical neurologist. The reviews will consult with the Australian, State and Territory governments and a broad range of people with expertise or experience in relevant disciplines, and their reports tabled in the Australian Parliament and provided to the Council of Australian Governments by 19 December 2005.
It is expected that calls for written submissions will be made shortly.
Ministerial media release:
http://www7.health.gov.au/nhmrc/media/rel2005/review.htm
Review homepage:
http://www.lockhartreview.com.au/
Some reactions:
http://www.democrats.org.au/news/?press_id=4666
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/
0,5744,15665605%255E421,00.html

PM retreat paves way for stem cell study

26/03/05- JOHN Howard has abandoned an attempt to extend restrictions on the scientific use of excess IVF embryos after failing to obtain state and territory agreement. The decision means embryos created after April 5, 2002, may now be used in stem cell research.
The Weekend Australian. Read more [pdf 14kb] .....

Australian Gov’t reconsiders therapeutic cloning ban

02/12/04 - Australia's recent support for a total cloning ban at the United Nations (UN) has left researchers in the country surprised and concerned, particularly in light of an upcoming parliamentary review of embryo research legislation.

Bioethics-Today link:
http://www.bioethicstoday.org/archives/frameset/
FShumancloningmain.htm
The Scientist: http://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20041202/02