Factiva

THE Howard Government is facing another divisive RU486-style conscience debate over the issue of stem cell research.

Following an initial debate in the last parliamentary session, which resulted in a ban on human cloning but legalised research on human embryos, the Government ordered a review of the associated issue of therapeutic cloning.

The resulting Lockhart Report recommended therapeutic cloning be allowed.

The Government must make a decision on the Lockhart recommendations before the next Council on Australian Governments meeting with the states in May.

Because any agreement with the states will require matching federal legislation, the issue will come to a vote in Parliament.

And already, senior "pro-life" government figures are gearing up for a campaign to block any move to allow therapeutic cloning - the process by which the nucleus is removed from the embryo, making it non-viable.

The embryo is then implanted with a patient's cell and used to treat conditions such as cancer.

Among those opposed to this research are Health Minister Tony Abbott, his junior minister Santo Santoro, and his parliamentary secretary Christopher Pyne. Among the leading proponents are Industry Minister Ian McFarlane, who has been considering the Lockhart Report.

Mr McFarlane will take a joint submission to Cabinet outlining the available options.

It is unclear where Prime Minister John Howard stands on the issue.

While he has effectively supported stem cell research, Mr Abbott, Senator Santoro and Mr Pyne will be arguing to him that therapeutic cloning is "a step too far".

One MP who is fiercely resisting the green light to the process described it as "an abomination".

The danger for the Government is that the parliamentary debate will mirror the splits over RU486, the pill which brings on an abortion.

The Parliament overturned the discretion of Mr Abbott as Health Minister to veto the drug's importation. The advocates of RU486, including a majority of women in the Coalition, argued it was not about abortion, because the legality of abortion was not up for consideration.

Rather, they said it was simply about extending the methods available for abortion.

But, inevitably, the pro-life forces tried to make it a vote on approval for abortion and they are likely to do the same regarding therapeutic cloning.

They believe that making an embryo non-viable is the same as taking a potential life.

All six Labor states are believed to support the process, with Queensland and Victoria leading the charge on the grounds Australia cannot afford to be left behind in the area of medical technology.

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