Victoria to vote on therapeutic cloning

Victoria may become the first Australian state to allow scientists to conduct therapeutic cloning by cell nuclear transfer (CNR), after legislation legalising the research was proposed by Health Minister Bronwyn Pike to the state's Parliament last week. Although Australia's Federal Parliament passed Senator Kay Patterson's bill to permit therapeutic cloning last year, state legislators are still required to approve the procedure to allow scientists to conduct CNR in their territories.

Therapeutic cloning has remained illegal in Victoria and under the current framework scientists in the state are unable to apply for federal licences to conduct stem cell research using CNR. As with the Patterson bill, which saw Prime Minister John Howard speak out against therapeutic cloning, warning it could erode deeply held social values, the proposal in Victoria will be subject to a conscience vote. The changes have been proposed as an amendment to Victoria's Infertility Treatment Act, and whilst allowing scientists to conduct CNR, will prohibit creating an embryo by mixing an unfertilised egg containing the cloned nucleus with sperm, and will make reproductive cloning - the insertion of a cloned embryo into a womb - a criminal act.

The Catholic Church has spoken out against the legislation, as although in favour of stem cell research using adult cells, it unequivocally rejects the creation of human life - an embryo - for the sole purpose of research, ultimately to be destroyed. The Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, has asked legislators to drop the bill. 'To allow human embryos to be deliberately created and then destroyed for scientific research is always unethical', said Archbishop Hart. Similar opposition to the proposal was expressed by former minister Christine Campbell, who also grounded her objections in unproven tests in animals and the potential for the exploitation of women egg donors. 'I want Victoria to be one of the top five biotech sites internationally, but you should never create human life for its deliberate destruction,' Ms Campbell said.

However, the treasurer of Victoria, Mr John Brumby, has backed the legislation, saying that CNR may one day come to be viewed as IVF is now. He cited the potential health breakthroughs that may arise from therapeutic cloning and wanting to have Victorian scientists leading the way for Australia's stem cell research agenda. 'It is research which I believe doesn't threaten any ethical or morally held views that I think the majority of the population would have', Mr Brumby said, adding, 'I've always been a huge supporter of medical research ... it's good medical research and it will save people's lives'.

The Victorian proposals are scheduled for a second reading in April and, if approved, will become law sometime mid-year.