The Shadow Attorney-General, Ms Isobel Redmond, has introduced a Private Members Bill for an Act to refer certain matters relating to de facto relationships to the Commonwealth. All other states and territories have already attended to this matter, except South Australia and Western Australia (WA already has legislation whereby people living in de facto relationships can have their disputes about financial matters and children determined in one Court; the Family Court of Western Australia).

Ms Redmond indicated that she has taken the action of introducing a Private Members Bill as the Government has not taken action on the matter and so that South Australia can be covered by federal legislation in the same way as all the other states and territories. She has also suggested that to get this legislation passed sooner, rather than later, members contract their local Member of Parliament to urge support for the Bill.

Access to IVF

There is a bill 74, Reproductive Technology (Clinical Practices) (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2008 which will be debated in the Upper House soon. This bill has an amendment by Ian Hunter which will enable access to reproductive technologies within South Australia for all women. This amendment would benefit many families in South Australia by making it easier for them to access safe medical practices which will enable them to have the family they desire. Under the current law these families are having to either travel interstate every month for treatment or alternatively undergo risky procedures at home with donor sperm that has not been medically screened to rule out infectious disease or genetic disorders. Such DIY procedures may also lead to future custody cases if a private agreement between a donor and recipient family breakdown.

In short, these options potentially endanger the health of mother and child, as well as putting enormous financial and emotional pressures on the family. The situation has also led to South Australian couples moving interstate so they can have their families without having to travel every month to access services that are readily available elsewhere in Australia. This adds to the drain of young people leaving S.A. It should also be noted that South Australia is the last state to pass legislation such as this which is particularly unfortunate and embarrassing given that we did lead the country in gay law reform in the 1970’s. Once again, South Australia has not managed to keep pace with the other states and we are fast gaining a national reputation for being the backward "discrimination state".

So what can you do????

Please email members of the legislative council and ask them to support this amendment.

Here are the addresses to send to relevant members of the legislative council just put this into the To box

parnell@parliament.sa.gov.au;david.winderlich@parliament.sa.gov.au; Ann.Bressington@parliament.sa.gov.au; Michelle.Lensink@parliament.sa.gov.au; minister.gago@saugov.sa.gov.au; Stephen.Wade@parliament.sa.gov.au; ministerholloway@saugov.sa.gov.au; john.darley@parliament.sa.gov.au; john.dawkins@parliament.sa.gov.au; John.Gazzola@parliament.sa.gov.au; robert.lawson@parliament.sa.gov.au; david.ridgway@parliament.sa.gov.au; caroline.schaefer@parliament.sa.gov.au; Bob.Sneath@parliament.sa.gov.au; terry.stephens@parliament.sa.gov.au; Russell.Wortley@parliament.sa.gov.au; carmel.zollo@parliament.sa.gov.au;

Sample email – please add your personal story to it or how this legislation will help you.

Dear Member,

I am writing to you to request your support for the upcoming bill 74, Reproductive Technology (Clinical Practices) (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2008. I am seeking your support for the Amendment No 1 [Hunter–1]. This amendment would benefit many families in South Australia by making it easier for them to access safe medical practices which will enable them to have the family they desire. Under the current law these families are having to either travel interstate every month for treatment or alternatively undergo risky procedures at home with donor sperm that has not been medically screened to rule out infectious disease or genetic disorders. Such DIY procedures may also lead to future custody cases if a private agreement between a donor and recipient family breakdown. In short, these options potentially endanger the health of mother and child, as well as putting enormous financial and emotional pressures on the family.

The situation has also led to South Australian couples moving interstate so they can have their families without having to travel every month to access services that are readily available elsewhere in Australia. This adds to the drain of young people leaving S.A. It should also be noted that South Australia is the last state to pass legislation such as this which is particularly unfortunate and embarrassing given that we did lead the country in gay law reform in the 1970’s. Once again, South Australia has not managed to keep pace with the other states and we are fast gaining a national reputation for being the backward "discrimination state".

ADD PERSONAL STORY HERE

Kind Regards

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ADDRESS