Fed: Senior minister supports IVF conscience vote
CANBERRA, April 22 AAP - A senior government minister has called for coalition MPsto be given a conscience vote on access to IVF treatment for single women and lesbiansas cabinet meets to consider the issue.
Federal cabinet is today expected to rubber stamp a proposal under which the governmentwould modify the Sex Discrimination Act to allow single women and lesbians to be barredfrom accessing IVF.
But Prime Minister John Howard is weighing up giving government MPs a free vote on the laws.
Opposition Leader Simon Crean has ruled out a conscience vote for Labor MPs.
But Health Minister Kay Patterson said she supported a conscience vote because theissue was morally difficult.
Labor, meanwhile, accused Mr Howard of failing to coordinate a national response toIVF access for single women and lesbians.
Opposition justice spokesman Robert McClelland said instead of trying to get a unifiedapproach, the government had flicked the issue to the states which would result in anad hoc approach.
The spat follows a High Court ruling last week on a Federal Court decision which founda Victorian ban on single women and lesbians from using IVF were illegal.
Mr McClelland said Mr Howard's professed support for the rights of an unborn childto a mother and father would be undermined by the government's proposed legislation.
He said under the government's proposal, women could simply travel from Victoria toNSW or other states to get IVF services.
AAP rft/mg/sb
KEYWORD: IVF DAYLEAD
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