Labor MP backs Liberal’s embryo call

Sydney
10 March 2002

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Labor MP backs Liberal’s embryo call

A Federal Labor MP has called on Government MPs to support a Federal minister in his call for the Government to ban research involving the destruction of embryos.

The Minster for Ageing, Kevin Andrews, has put a submission to cabinet favouring a ban on stem cell research on “surplus” or “excess” embryos from IVF programs.

The issue will be resolved by Cabinet and a position put to the Council of Australian Governments in April, when state, territory and federal governments will canvass the possibility of nationally consistent legislation.

Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia already have legislation preventing destructive research on embryos.

At issue is the extraction of stem cells from the embryos, which are then destroyed. Stem cells are capable of growing into specialised tissue and organs, and it is thought that, through stem cell research, treatments for diabetes, spinal injuries and disorders, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and a range of other problems might be formed.

Mr Andrews chaired a bipartisan, two-year parliamentary inquiry into human cloning and stem cell research – the House of Representatives Legal and Constitutional Affairs cloning inquiry – which reported last year. Of 10 members, four opposed research on embryos.

John Murphy, the Labor MP who is calling on Government MPs to back Mr Andrews, a fellow Catholic, was part of the inquiry. He said the minister was being misrepresented. Mr Andrews was not opposed to research on stem cells already extracted, nor to research on adult stem cells, he said. Monash University already had a large supply of stem cell lines in storage.

But Mr Andrews and he were opposed to research requiring the further destruction of embryos. “It’s an important issue, and I think what we should do now is stop further destruction of embryos," Mr Murphy said.

“Eventually at some time they think they’ll work out why a cell turns into a particular tissue or organ.

“But scientists haven’t yet been able to prove anything. They’re just offering some hope for the future," Mr Murphy said.

“I note that Mr Andrews is expected to face opposition from some of his colleagues who are Federal Ministers, who argue for the creation of new embryos or the use of existing ‘surplus’ for this research.

“I know that there are many on both sides of the House who also agree with Mr Andrews.

“Now is the time for the most senior members of the Howard Government to voice their support for him.”