LESBIAN and single women will have access to IVF treatment under sweeping new laws to be adopted in Victoria next year.
Attorney-General Rob Hulls announced the change today, with the Government set to implement several other fertility law changes.
Mr Hulls said the Government would adopt a large number of the most of the 130 recommendations of a Law Reform Commision report into changes to the Infertility Act.
In June, the Law Reform Commission recommended sweeping changes that would allow gay couples to adopt children and free up IVF for single women and lesbians.
The report was commissioned by the Bracks Government in 2002, but is believed to have faced significant opposition in Cabinet.
The retirement of former Premier Mr Bracks, a Catholic social conservative, may have cleared the way for some of today's measures.
Mr Hulls, a social progressive, is understood to have been a strong supporter of many of the recommendations.
The commission made 130 recommendations for changes to the Infertility Treatment Act.
These include recognition of female partners of lesbian mothers as parents. Birth certificates could use the word 'parent' instead of mother and father.
The commission also recommended parents who used a surrogate mother to carry their baby get legal recognition as parents and that dead donors of sperm and eggs would be taken from the deceased only if they had previously given written consent.
Law Reform Commissioner Iain Ross said children's best interests were the main consideration.
Dr Ross said children were disadvantaged if their family arrangements were not recognised by law.
"All Victorian children should have the same legal protection and entitlements,'' Dr Ross said.
The State Government will make a formal response to the report by the end of the year.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22923841-12377,00.html
Topic: Lesbians to get access to IVF treatment (Read 2575 times)