Fed: Vote on stem cells looking more likely

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2006
Fed: Vote on stem cells looking more likely

CANBERRA, Aug 17 AAP - A conscience vote on expanding stem cell research is looking
more likely after a government senator indicated she would introduce legislation dealing
with the issue.

Former federal health minister Kay Patterson plans to introduce a private member's
bill seeking to reverse a ban on therapeutic cloning.

She plans to base the bill on the findings of the expert Lockhart review which recommended
the government let scientists create embryos for the purpose of producing stem cells.

Present laws restrict research to spare IVF embryos.

Cabinet rejected the recommendation in June but Prime Minister John Howard this week
bowed to backbench pressure and promised his MPs a conscience vote should any legislation
come to parliament.

But after being informed of Senator Patterson's plan yesterday, he gave no guarantees
he would support debate on her bill.

Senator Patterson said she expected a conscience vote would be held in the Senate to
decide if the bill should proceed to debate.

She said it gave the bill a greater chance of proceeding than a vote along party lines.

As a government senator, her bill is likely to supercede similar legislation being
drafted by Australian Democrats Senator Natasha Stott Despoja.

Senator Patterson said she did not know if the majority of her colleagues would support
the bill, but she thought the issue should be tested in parliament.

AAP so/sd

KEYWORD: STEMCELL DAYLEAD

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