❓ The Minister for Health expresses disappointment at the Legislative Council's failure to support the Human Reproductive Technology Amendment Bill 2007, highlighting its potential to hinder vital medical research and attract researchers to other states. He links the bill's failure to the conservative nature of the upper house and its potential impact on future legislation.
AnsweredQoN 212Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY AMENDMENT BILL 2007 212. Dr J.M. EDWARDS to the Minister for Health: Can the minister outline to the house the implications of the Legislative Council’s failure to support the Human Reproductive Technology Amendment Bill 2007 last night? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
Yesterday we had 40 young kids who are suffering from diabetes type 1 involved in making a presentation in this chamber. I think that all the people present listened with great interest to them, their parents and medical researchers involved in trying to find a cure for diabetes type 1. We were all moved by that. It was very disappointing that not long after they had made their presentation in this very chamber that the upper house voted down the very medical research that has the potential to find a cure for diabetes type 1. I was very disappointed and I have spoken this morning to a couple of key medical researchers, including Professor Clinton who said that he too is very disappointed at the failure of Western Australia, alone in the nation, to pass this legislation. After human reproductive technology legislation was passed by the commonwealth Parliament it was then the subject of an intergovernmental agreement that each government would use its best endeavours to ensure that similar state legislation was passed. Every state, with the exception of South Australia where the legislation has been introduced and is expected to be passed soon, has passed this legislation and now has it on its statute books. This legislation would have offered to our scientists and medical researchers the capacity to engage in life-saving medical research. It would have very much offered the capacity for these people to be able to save lives and improve the quality of lives of other people. Mr C.J. Barnett : You’d better talk to your five Labor members who voted against it. Mr J.A. McGINTY : The problem is the conservative nature of the upper house, and the member for Cottesloe knows that is the case. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY AMENDMENT BILL 2007
Can the minister outline to the house the implications of the Legislative Council’s failure to support the Human Reproductive Technology Amendment Bill 2007 last night? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: Yesterday we had 40 young kids who are suffering from diabetes type 1 involved in making a presentation in this chamber. I think that all the people present listened with great interest to them, their parents and medical researchers involved in trying to find a cure for diabetes type 1. We were all moved by that. It was very disappointing that not long after they had made their presentation in this very chamber that the upper house voted down the very medical research that has the potential to find a cure for diabetes type 1. I was very disappointed and I have spoken this morning to a couple of key medical researchers, including Professor Clinton who said that he too is very disappointed at the failure of Western Australia, alone in the nation, to pass this legislation. After human reproductive technology legislation was passed by the commonwealth Parliament it was then the subject of an intergovernmental agreement that each government would use its best endeavours to ensure that similar state legislation was passed. Every state, with the exception of South Australia where the legislation has been introduced and is expected to be passed soon, has passed this legislation and now has it on its statute books. This legislation would have offered to our scientists and medical researchers the capacity to engage in life-saving medical research. It would have very much offered the capacity for these people to be able to save lives and improve the quality of lives of other people. Mr C.J. Barnett : You’d better talk to your five Labor members who voted against it. Mr J.A. McGINTY : The problem is the conservative nature of the upper house, and the member for Cottesloe knows that is the case. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: Yesterday we had 40 young kids who are suffering from diabetes type 1 involved in making a presentation in this chamber. I think that all the people present listened with great interest to them, their parents and medical researchers involved in trying to find a cure for diabetes type 1. We were all moved by that. It was very disappointing that not long after they had made their presentation in this very chamber that the upper house voted down the very medical research that has the potential to find a cure for diabetes type 1. I was very disappointed and I have spoken this morning to a couple of key medical researchers, including Professor Clinton who said that he too is very disappointed at the failure of Western Australia, alone in the nation, to pass this legislation. After human reproductive technology legislation was passed by the commonwealth Parliament it was then the subject of an intergovernmental agreement that each government would use its best endeavours to ensure that similar state legislation was passed. Every state, with the exception of South Australia where the legislation has been introduced and is expected to be passed soon, has passed this legislation and now has it on its statute books. This legislation would have offered to our scientists and medical researchers the capacity to engage in life-saving medical research. It would have very much offered the capacity for these people to be able to save lives and improve the quality of lives of other people. Mr C.J. Barnett : You’d better talk to your five Labor members who voted against it. Mr J.A. McGINTY : The problem is the conservative nature of the upper house, and the member for Cottesloe knows that is the case. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
Yesterday we had 40 young kids who are suffering from diabetes type 1 involved in making a presentation in this chamber. I think that all the people present listened with great interest to them, their parents and medical researchers involved in trying to find a cure for diabetes type 1. We were all moved by that. It was very disappointing that not long after they had made their presentation in this very chamber that the upper house voted down the very medical research that has the potential to find a cure for diabetes type 1. I was very disappointed and I have spoken this morning to a couple of key medical researchers, including Professor Clinton who said that he too is very disappointed at the failure of Western Australia, alone in the nation, to pass this legislation. After human reproductive technology legislation was passed by the commonwealth Parliament it was then the subject of an intergovernmental agreement that each government would use its best endeavours to ensure that similar state legislation was passed. Every state, with the exception of South Australia where the legislation has been introduced and is expected to be passed soon, has passed this legislation and now has it on its statute books. This legislation would have offered to our scientists and medical researchers the capacity to engage in life-saving medical research. It would have very much offered the capacity for these people to be able to save lives and improve the quality of lives of other people. Mr C.J. Barnett : You’d better talk to your five Labor members who voted against it. Mr J.A. McGINTY : The problem is the conservative nature of the upper house, and the member for Cottesloe knows that is the case. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
After human reproductive technology legislation was passed by the commonwealth Parliament it was then the subject of an intergovernmental agreement that each government would use its best endeavours to ensure that similar state legislation was passed. Every state, with the exception of South Australia where the legislation has been introduced and is expected to be passed soon, has passed this legislation and now has it on its statute books. This legislation would have offered to our scientists and medical researchers the capacity to engage in life-saving medical research. It would have very much offered the capacity for these people to be able to save lives and improve the quality of lives of other people. Mr C.J. Barnett : You’d better talk to your five Labor members who voted against it. Mr J.A. McGINTY : The problem is the conservative nature of the upper house, and the member for Cottesloe knows that is the case. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
This legislation would have offered to our scientists and medical researchers the capacity to engage in life-saving medical research. It would have very much offered the capacity for these people to be able to save lives and improve the quality of lives of other people. Mr C.J. Barnett : You’d better talk to your five Labor members who voted against it. Mr J.A. McGINTY : The problem is the conservative nature of the upper house, and the member for Cottesloe knows that is the case. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
Mr C.J. Barnett : You’d better talk to your five Labor members who voted against it. Mr J.A. McGINTY : The problem is the conservative nature of the upper house, and the member for Cottesloe knows that is the case. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : The problem is the conservative nature of the upper house, and the member for Cottesloe knows that is the case. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY AMENDMENT BILL 2007
Can the minister outline to the house the implications of the Legislative Council’s failure to support the Human Reproductive Technology Amendment Bill 2007 last night? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: Yesterday we had 40 young kids who are suffering from diabetes type 1 involved in making a presentation in this chamber. I think that all the people present listened with great interest to them, their parents and medical researchers involved in trying to find a cure for diabetes type 1. We were all moved by that. It was very disappointing that not long after they had made their presentation in this very chamber that the upper house voted down the very medical research that has the potential to find a cure for diabetes type 1. I was very disappointed and I have spoken this morning to a couple of key medical researchers, including Professor Clinton who said that he too is very disappointed at the failure of Western Australia, alone in the nation, to pass this legislation. After human reproductive technology legislation was passed by the commonwealth Parliament it was then the subject of an intergovernmental agreement that each government would use its best endeavours to ensure that similar state legislation was passed. Every state, with the exception of South Australia where the legislation has been introduced and is expected to be passed soon, has passed this legislation and now has it on its statute books. This legislation would have offered to our scientists and medical researchers the capacity to engage in life-saving medical research. It would have very much offered the capacity for these people to be able to save lives and improve the quality of lives of other people. Mr C.J. Barnett : You’d better talk to your five Labor members who voted against it. Mr J.A. McGINTY : The problem is the conservative nature of the upper house, and the member for Cottesloe knows that is the case. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: Yesterday we had 40 young kids who are suffering from diabetes type 1 involved in making a presentation in this chamber. I think that all the people present listened with great interest to them, their parents and medical researchers involved in trying to find a cure for diabetes type 1. We were all moved by that. It was very disappointing that not long after they had made their presentation in this very chamber that the upper house voted down the very medical research that has the potential to find a cure for diabetes type 1. I was very disappointed and I have spoken this morning to a couple of key medical researchers, including Professor Clinton who said that he too is very disappointed at the failure of Western Australia, alone in the nation, to pass this legislation. After human reproductive technology legislation was passed by the commonwealth Parliament it was then the subject of an intergovernmental agreement that each government would use its best endeavours to ensure that similar state legislation was passed. Every state, with the exception of South Australia where the legislation has been introduced and is expected to be passed soon, has passed this legislation and now has it on its statute books. This legislation would have offered to our scientists and medical researchers the capacity to engage in life-saving medical research. It would have very much offered the capacity for these people to be able to save lives and improve the quality of lives of other people. Mr C.J. Barnett : You’d better talk to your five Labor members who voted against it. Mr J.A. McGINTY : The problem is the conservative nature of the upper house, and the member for Cottesloe knows that is the case. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
Yesterday we had 40 young kids who are suffering from diabetes type 1 involved in making a presentation in this chamber. I think that all the people present listened with great interest to them, their parents and medical researchers involved in trying to find a cure for diabetes type 1. We were all moved by that. It was very disappointing that not long after they had made their presentation in this very chamber that the upper house voted down the very medical research that has the potential to find a cure for diabetes type 1. I was very disappointed and I have spoken this morning to a couple of key medical researchers, including Professor Clinton who said that he too is very disappointed at the failure of Western Australia, alone in the nation, to pass this legislation. After human reproductive technology legislation was passed by the commonwealth Parliament it was then the subject of an intergovernmental agreement that each government would use its best endeavours to ensure that similar state legislation was passed. Every state, with the exception of South Australia where the legislation has been introduced and is expected to be passed soon, has passed this legislation and now has it on its statute books. This legislation would have offered to our scientists and medical researchers the capacity to engage in life-saving medical research. It would have very much offered the capacity for these people to be able to save lives and improve the quality of lives of other people. Mr C.J. Barnett : You’d better talk to your five Labor members who voted against it. Mr J.A. McGINTY : The problem is the conservative nature of the upper house, and the member for Cottesloe knows that is the case. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
After human reproductive technology legislation was passed by the commonwealth Parliament it was then the subject of an intergovernmental agreement that each government would use its best endeavours to ensure that similar state legislation was passed. Every state, with the exception of South Australia where the legislation has been introduced and is expected to be passed soon, has passed this legislation and now has it on its statute books. This legislation would have offered to our scientists and medical researchers the capacity to engage in life-saving medical research. It would have very much offered the capacity for these people to be able to save lives and improve the quality of lives of other people. Mr C.J. Barnett : You’d better talk to your five Labor members who voted against it. Mr J.A. McGINTY : The problem is the conservative nature of the upper house, and the member for Cottesloe knows that is the case. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
This legislation would have offered to our scientists and medical researchers the capacity to engage in life-saving medical research. It would have very much offered the capacity for these people to be able to save lives and improve the quality of lives of other people. Mr C.J. Barnett : You’d better talk to your five Labor members who voted against it. Mr J.A. McGINTY : The problem is the conservative nature of the upper house, and the member for Cottesloe knows that is the case. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
Mr C.J. Barnett : You’d better talk to your five Labor members who voted against it. Mr J.A. McGINTY : The problem is the conservative nature of the upper house, and the member for Cottesloe knows that is the case. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : The problem is the conservative nature of the upper house, and the member for Cottesloe knows that is the case. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
The SPEAKER : Order! I could not hear what the Minister for Health was trying to say. I call the member for Murray and the member for Moore to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : Here in Western Australia we are blessed with some of the best medical researchers in the nation, such as Professor Fiona Stanley, the Nobel prize winners and a great many others. The concern is that those people who wish to engage in this measure of research will find it more attractive to go to the more favourable legislative environment in other states to do their work. Professor Peter Klinken said that he was very disappointed with the vote taken in the Legislative Council. He said that while the so-called new technology is promising, it is embryonic and has yet to be established as reliable and, therefore, it is unacceptable to use that as an excuse for the defeat of this legislation. Had this legislation been passed to enable research that relates to tissue regeneration, particularly neural and cardiac tissue, there was the potential to find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and to find improvements for dealing with people suffering strokes and spinal cord injuries. We all remember Christopher Reeve, who played the role of Superman in the movie Superman , making an impassioned plea before he died for research in this area. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for Cottesloe, the member for Roe and the member for Central Kimberley-Pilbara to order. Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : It also offers great potential for research into cures for cancer. That is what was at stake when this legislation was voted down in the Legislative Council last night. I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
I have no argument whatsoever with those people who have a moral or conscientious objection to the legislation based on religious beliefs. It was never expected that people with those beliefs would vote for this legislation. However, along with the science and medical research communities in Western Australia, I am very disturbed that this legislation has been defeated only here in Western Australia and nowhere else in Australia. If that voting pattern continues in the upper house, it places in jeopardy other vital legislation such as the living wills legislation, which will play a very critical role in organ donation and in allowing people to die with dignity and to have their dying wishes respected and the surrogacy legislation, which will enable medically infertile women to realise their dream of having a child. That is what is at stake, and I remain bitterly disappointed at the decision of the Legislative Council.
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