ART bill hangs in balance

Gay rights groups have expressed concern over the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) bill’s success as it meets its final hurdle.

As Southern Star goes to press the bill will enter the upper house for debate, before a vote which is likely to occur this week.

If passed, the ART bill would allow lesbian couples and single women access to IVF treatment and smooth the way for non-commercial surrogacy.

The Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby co-convenor Stephen Jones said the lobby was -œvery concerned about numbers supporting the bill as it goes before a conscience vote.

-œIt proves that there isn’t the overwhelming support of the LGBTI community at a state level, Jones told Southern Star.

-œThe implications of the bill for our families are immense -” decent recognition, access to technology and many other  benefits.

-œWe strongly call on government to implement this reform as soon as possible.

The Senate passed the family law bill in federal Parliament earlier this week. This will allow same-sex couples access to the federal Family Court and recognise non-biological parents for the first time in Australia.

“The link between the family law bill and provisions of the ART bill is that they recognise non-traditional families, Jones said.

-œThe state government should follow their lead and challenge traditional parenting presumptions that currently exist in Victoria.

Jones said if the legislation doesn’t pass, laws will become very complex and leave rainbow families as -œsecretive and unrecognised.

-œWhat we’re seeing is a tension between the state and federal governments on issues such as this and specifically on adoption which is an area where no progress has been made in the last decade.

Australian Coalition for Equality spokesman Corey Irlam said he was hopeful the message from Canberra  would be sent to Victorian MPs.

-œIf the federal Parliament can wrap its head around this reform by recognising the best interest of the child is paramount, the Victorian Parliament has no excuses, he said.

-œDiscrimination against children in same-sex families in Victoria has been going on for too long.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesman Rodney Croome has also urged the Tasmanian government to reintroduce measures it knocked back in 2003 to recognise same-sex parents in that state.