Australia's House of Representatives approves cloning bill

Australia's House of Representatives has approved legislation that permits therapeutic cloning for embryonic stem cell (ES cell) research by 82 votes to 62. The Senate already passed the bill in early November by a slight margin of 34 votes to 32. MPs in the House of Representatives were called upon to cast a 'conscience vote', meaning they were not obliged to vote along their party's line.

Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, who has previously rejected proposals made by the Lockhart Committee last December that recommended allowing therapeutic cloning, was persuaded to allow a 'conscience vote' on the issue in the face of increased public interest. A poll, conducted by Roy Morgan, showed that 80 per cent of the Australian public supported therapeutic cloning research. Senator Kay Patterson, former Health Secretary, subsequently announced that she intended to introduce legislation that allows for therapeutic cloning. The debate over the two bills, one proposed by Senator Natasha Scott Despoja, which largely endorses the Lockhart report, and that proposed by Senator Kay Patterson, which relaxes the ban of therapeutic, started in the Senate on the 6 November. Now passed, the Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction and the Regulation of Human Embryo Research Amendment Act 2006 will allow scientists to apply for a licence to the National Health and Medical Research Council to carry out therapeutic cloning on embryo. During the debate in the House of Representatives, John Howard spoke out against the proposals, saying 'You have to take a stand for some absolutes in our society and I think what we're talking about here is a moral absolute and that is why I cannot support the legislation'. He added, 'I don't think the science has shifted enough to warrant the parliament changing its view'.

One of the main arguments put forward by supporters of the legislation focused on thee potential health benefits stem cell research may hold for sufferers of various diseases and that extending research by allowing for therapeutic cloning will make breakthroughs more likely. MP Fran Bailey, whose daughter suffers from Hirschsprung's Disease, said 'I never dreamt I would have the opportunity to stand in our national parliament to give our scientists the means to improve not just my daughter's life, but the lives of so many of our Australian citizens'. The emotional speeches by MPs who spoke about their personal situations featured heavily in reports on the debate. MP Teresa Gambaro, who voted in support of the legislation despite her Catholic beliefs, spoke tearfully of her father who had recently been diagnosed as having Parkinson's. 'He pleaded with me to help him. I can't look him in the eyes and say I won't be supporting this bill', she said. Supporters also argued that extending ES cell research would place Australian stem cell scientists on a global footing allowing for international collaboration with other permissive regimes, such as the UK. However, against the legislation, some MPs played down the potential scientific gains from stem cell research. They also voiced concerns about the potential for violating human dignity and the rights of the unborn. MP Christopher Pyne, who strongly opposed the legislation said, 'If we pass this bill, which I fear we will, we will be at the bottom of the abyss when we talk about respect for human life'. Prior to the debate and despite ultimately voting in favour of the bill, MP Lindsay Tanner warned, 'We are a society gradually acquiring the ability to change the nature of what it means to be human. We are gradually getting into a position where we can recreate ourselves as a species, and the implications of that are absolutely profound'.