Australian Federal Inquiry into surrogacy

Dickinson08 Jan 2016surrogacy

I have mentioned this inquiry in some of my earlier blog posts, and have discussed this with many of the people I have been meeting in my travels.  The Closing date for submissions is actually the day I drive back in Australia, so I plan to prepare a submission to the Inquiry while I am travelling, and largely based on what I learn during my Fellowship, as well as considering my experience as a counsellor for domestic surrogacy.  I thought I should provide more of an explanation about the Inquiry , and the information below (italicised) has been taken directly from the website:http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Social_Policy_and_Legal_Affairs/Inquiry_into_surrogacy

Anyone is permitted to make a submission, so if you also feel you have something to say, get writing!

On 2 December 2015 the Attorney General, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC, asked the Committee to inquire into and report on the regulatory and legislative aspects of international and domestic surrogacy arrangements.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs will inquire and report into the regulatory and legislative aspects of international and domestic surrogacy arrangements, with a focus on:

  1. the role and responsibility of states and territories to regulate surrogacy, both international and domestic, and differences in existing legislative arrangements
  2. medical and welfare aspects for all parties involved, including regulatory requirements for intending parents and the role of health care providers, welfare services and other service providers
  3. issues arising regarding informed consent, exploitation, compensatory payments, rights and protections for all parties involved, including children
  4. relevant Commonwealth laws, policies and practices (including family law, immigration, citizenship, passports, child support and privacy) and improvements that could be made to enable the Commonwealth to respond appropriately to this issue (including consistency between laws where appropriate and desirable) to better protect children and others affected by such arrangements
  5. Australia’s international obligations
  6. the adequacy of the information currently available to interested parties to surrogacy arrangements (including the child) on risks, rights and protections
  7. information sharing between the Commonwealth and states and territories, and
  8. the laws, policies and practices of other countries that impact upon international surrogacy, particularly those relating to immigration and citizenship.

  9. Committee Members

The Committee is currently accepting submissions. Any interested individuals or organisations who wish to provide a submission are asked to email the secretariat at spla.reps@aph.gov.au by 1 February 2016 expressing their intention to submit.

Submissions are due by 11 February 2016.

The Committee is expected to report by 30 June 2016. 

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