Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has appointed a panel of experts to assist with the development of new legislation for assisted reproductive technology (ART) and surrogacy.
Chaired by Professor Roger Hart, an internationally recognised expert in the field of infertility treatment, the panel will advise Government on new reproductive technologies and surrogacy legislation.
The new legislation will reflect society’s views and technological advancements in human reproductive technology, to enable more Western Australians to start or expand their family.
The panel’s appointment follows Dr Sonia Allan’s 2019 Review of the Western Australian Human Reproductive Technology Act 1991 and the Surrogacy Act 2008.
In response to the Allan Review, the Government committed to introducing contemporary laws to make ART and surrogacy accessible to more Western Australians.
This includes expanding the eligibility criteria to provide same-sex couples and single people with the opportunity to conceive a child through ART.
Equity of access will be provided for altruistic surrogacy including consideration of women facing impending infertility, single men, people in same-sex relationships, transgender people and intersex people. A ban on commercial surrogacy will remain.
Also under the new legislation, a streamlined process will be developed for surrogacy approval that is more consumer friendly.
Contact between donor-conceived people and their biological donor will be supported, if this is desired and where both people consent.
The panel will undertake consultation with key stakeholders.
Professor Hart will be joined by seven other experts with specialties across health, law, ethics and research.
As stated by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
“We know that the quest to begin a family can be fraught with personal heartache and, for many, these reforms can’t come fast enough.
“I welcome our expert panel members and look forward to working with them to deliver contemporary legislation that is safe and balances the needs of people trying to conceive using reproductive technology, the intended parents seeking surrogacy and, of course, the child.
“We are committed to supporting more Western Australians to start or expand their family with reproductive technology laws that are inclusive and safe.
“I want to assure people our goal is to see this new legislation introduced to Parliament during this term of Government.”
