Surrogacy reforms attract community support

Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations
The Honourable Cameron Dick
26/11/2009
Surrogacy reforms attract community support
 
The Bligh Government's surrogacy reforms, which were formally introduced into Parliament today through the Surrogacy Bill 2009, have attracted strong community support.

Attorney-General and Industrial Relations Minister Cameron Dick said community input on the surrogacy framework released in August and the consultation draft of the Surrogacy Bill tabled in Parliament last month strongly supported the reforms.

The Bill decriminalises altruistic surrogacy while protecting the rights and interests of children.

"Queensland is currently the only state in Australia where altruistic surrogacy is a crime, punishable by jail," Mr Dick said.

"The Bill is the culmination of the government's response to last year's joint parliamentary committee report on the issue of surrogacy. It is underpinned by the principle that the well-being and best interests of the child are paramount."

Mr Dick said the Surrogacy Bill 2009 was non-discriminat ory and open to all sections of the community.

"The proposed laws will allow intended parents to apply to the court to transfer the legal parentage of a child from the birth parents to themselves," he said.

"Under our laws, once the court makes the order, the child born under a surrogacy arrangement will enjoy the same status, protection and support as other children.

"This will apply irrespective of the circumstances of their birth or the status of the people who raise them.

"Children will be cared for in a way that promotes openness and honesty about the child's birth parentage."

Mr Dick said a District Court judge, sitting in the Children's Court, would have the authority to transfer legal parentage, ensuring the child would not be socially or legally disadvantaged.

"The Queensland model includes safeguards to protect everyone's interests, most importantly the rights and interests of the child, and to ensure the implications of altruistic surrogacy arrangements are clearly understood," he said.

"The new laws will also continue to make commercial surrogacy arrangements illegal."