News / Politics
Despite Prime Minster’s Opposition, Australia’s Parliament Lifts Ban on Cloning Human Embryos.
Stem cell research received a boost in Australia after Parliament lifted a ban on cloning human embryos. While the Senate had voted to lift the ban last month it had to pass through the House of Representatives before legislation was approved. That came when the House voted 82 to 62 in favor of lifting the ban.
While scientists believe that stem cell research could lead to treatments for Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, spinal cord injuries and other debilitating diseases and impairments, there has been heavy debate concerning the ethical and moral issues that surround cloning human embryos.
Speaking before Parliament, Prime Minister John Howard said “I've decided to vote against this legislation for the reason that in the end 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 can't support the legislation.”
Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile went further and stated, “We must not attempt to achieve good ends through what I believe are immoral means.”
Former Health Minister Kay Patterson was pleased with the vote and what it meant for Australia, “It will enable Australia to stay at the forefront of medical research.”
The Senate passed the legislation by a 34-32 vote on November 7 of this year. With the House voting in favor of the bill therapeutic cloning can now be conducted. In 2002 Australia voted to allow stem cell extraction from spare embryos intended for in vitro fertilization.
