Biotech Daily Special Report October 16, 2006
October 16th 2006 10:42
VICTORIA BACKS STEM CELL RESEARCH
The Victoria State Government says leading scientists have called for the implementation of the Lockhart Review Committee recommendations including the lifting of legislative bans on somatic cell nuclear transfer.
Treasurer John Brumby welcomed the communiqué which was released after an all-day Scientific Leaders Forum on Stem Cells in Melbourne, hosted by the Victoria Government.
“The Bracks Government wants to ensure Victoria remains an international leader in stem cell research which is why as a government we are strongly advocating easing current restrictions to allow scientists to take the next step in embryonic stem cell research,” Mr Brumby said.
“This is the strongest indication yet of the direction that Victorian science leaders believe is necessary to the future of stem cell research in this country. Their view supports the Victorian Government’s long-held determination that the current regulatory environment must be reformed to ensure our scientists can continue to progress this important work, which provides great promise to patients suffering serious diseases,” Mr Brumby said.
The forum was chaired by Prof Gustav Nossal and agreed that legislative changes were required to enable stem cell science to continue to succeed in Australia.
The communiqué called for:
* Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) to be allowed under licence with severe penalties to apply for any misuse of SCNT;
* the maintenance of an open and transparent regulatory licensing and monitoring regime for SCNT;
* the establishment of a national stem cell bank;
* the establishment of a regulatory framework comprised of overarching Commonwealth legislation and complementary State and Territory legislation; and
* continuing the ban on human reproductive cloning.
Mr Brumby said the document was a considered approach and would form part of the Victorian Government’s submission to the Senate Committee public hearings on stem cell research in Melbourne on October 24.
The forum discussed the issues directly with the deputy chair of the Lockhart Committee Prof Loane Skene.
Victoria Premier Steve Bracks said earlier today that his Government was “prepared to lead the nation with its own State-based legislation if the Federal Government fails to satisfactorily resolve this issue”.
The Federal government first shelved the recommendations of its own Lockhart Committee reviewing human embryonic stem cell research, but has been pressured to reconsider that decision.
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