Lesbians a step closer to IVF
South Australian Social Inclusion Minister Ian Hunter says lesbian couples and single women are a step closer to accessing IVF services after a bill to change the state鈥檚 laws on the issue passed in the Upper House last night.
Hunter鈥檚 private member’s bill to amend Section Nine of South Australia鈥檚 Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 1988 鈥� which currently prevents some single women and women in same-sex relationships from accessing fertility treatment 鈥� passed in the Legislative Council, 12 votes to 9.
鈥淐urrently under South Australian law, a woman has to be diagnosed as medically infertile in order to access assisted reproductive treatment [ART],鈥� Hunter said.
鈥淭his has significant implications for single women and lesbian couples in that it specifically excludes those who may not have any medical impediment to achieve pregnancy, but whose social circumstances prevent them from conceiving without some form of [ART].
The bill will now head to the Lower House for a vote.
鈥淲e鈥檒l be briefing members in the Lower House and explaining what the bill does for [ART] and hopefully the community will get on board and support the bill as well by contacting their local MPs and expressing their views on this,鈥� Hunter said.
Hunter said, if passed, the laws will bring South Australia in line with other states.
鈥淭he recent passage of the Family Relationships (Parentage) Amendment Act 2011 means that lesbian couples who conceive a child through [ART] are able to have both mothers recognised on the child鈥檚 birth certificate, but these same couples cannot access ART in SA and are forced to travel interstate,鈥� Hunter said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 time to remove discrimination from the law.鈥�
MPs have been allowed a conscience vote on the bill.
Similar legislation was introduced in 2009 but was defeated by one vote.
South Australia is one of the last states to allow lesbians and single women access to ART services.
Western Australia need to remove their ban on both single women and lesbians accessing IVF as well. Surrogacy is also banned in both WA and SA for both same sex couples and single people. It is time those bans were repealed as well!!!!