Western Australia rejects cloning legislation

The Upper House of the state of Western Australia has voted against legislation to permit the cloning of human embryos for research and to also allow surplus embryo to be donated for medical research following in IVFThe bill, which if passed would have brought the state in line with federal legislation, was rejected in a conscience vote by 18 votes to 15. The bill had already been passed by the Lower House by 26 votes to 16 but required the approval of the Upper House before it could become law.

It is believed this is one of the first times cloning legislation has been debated since two teams of scientists, one in Japan and the other in the US, announced last November they had reprogrammed skin cells to an embryonic-like state, showing that these cells - termed induced pluripotent stem cells (IPS cells)- regained their ability to develop into brain and heart tissue.

The Australians for Ethical Stem Cell Research welcomed the vote saying 'there is no point enacting laws for a science that is now dead and gone'. David van Gend, director of the organisation, described how the development of IPS cells now meant SCNT (somatic cell nuclear transfer) was unnecessary. 'They have understood that the world of stem cell science has so radically changed since November 2007, providing such a magnificent and ethical alternative to cloning, that there is no longer any compelling argument for cloning, and this blighted science can be left to wither on the vine', he said.

Those in favour of embryo cloning, however, pointed to the ongoing need to explore all avenues in developing treatments and cures for people suffering from Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, diabetes and other debilitating conditions for which it is hoped stem cell research may provide medical breakthroughs. Professor Peter Kinken of the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research said: 'All stem cell research has pluses and minuses and we need to explore all of them and not close off any doors'. Health minister Jim McGinty was also disappointed with the outcome of the vote. 'Conservative forces in the upper house...have denied the people of Western Australia world class medical research and denied people with life threatening medical conditions potential cures,' he said, adding, '...the Upper House has given a slap in the face to Western Australia's scientific community, [Western Australia is] the only state that has not followed the commonwealth parliament's example and passed this legislation'.

The Australian federal parliament voted in December 2006 to repeal prohibitive laws on embryo research and human cloning, deciding that somatic cell nuclear transfer should be permitted. Despite the new laws, many states retained prohibitive environments preventing researchers from using state facilities or funding for embryo research. Individual states then debated the issue and so far permissive legislation has been implemented in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.