Chadwick Steve: Human Assisted Reproductive Technology (Storage) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Chadwick Steve: Human Assisted Reproductive Technology (Storage) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Hon STEVE CHADWICK (Labour) 
: 
 Members on this side of the House have been wondering what initiated this Human Assisted Reproductive Technology (Storage) Amendment Bill coming before the House tonight. I thank the Minister of Justice the Hon Simon Power for his clarity on that. I was on the Health Committee with Dr Paul Hutchison when it considered the original legislation which became the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2004. 
We knew that it would be quite comprehensive and complicated legislation and we knew that it would need revisiting. In fact I thought that we had put a clause in the bill for it to be reviewed because we knew that the nature of the bill was so complex. So I am not really surprised that we are here in 2009 looking at the need for a tidy-up of legislation that was enacted in 2004 especially with regard to this 10-year provision. It was my understanding that we never intended this to become a problem. If this amendment fixes the legal interpretation of section 10 then it is absolutely understandable for us to be here doing this today. I would be surprised if the bill did not come about by the Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology coming to the Minister and asking for clarity on that point and perhaps the Minister then sought a legal opinion as to what we could do about this conundrum. Sylvia Rumble who was the chair was always concerned about this issue. This will now give clarity to go forward and get the guidelines drafted so that the ethics committee has clarity around the issue. 
New Zealand passed this law relatively uncontroversially and I think that was due to the nature of the way in which Dianne Yates shepherded her own bill through the House with great passion but incredibly well researched. The legislation was also supported by clinicians who were well informed about the need for legal protection in the field of human-assisted reproduction. I acknowledge Dianne Yates and her work. We know that if this is the first time that we are seeking clarity with regard to legislation that was introduced in 2004 then it must be enduring and well-drafted legislation. 
We support this bill in all its forms and we look forward to the select committee consideration. There is always a story that comes out in the select committee that makes one realise that at that time in that environment when there was very little regulation or law we needed to be concerned about the human aspect. When I was the Associate Minister of Health responsible for this issue we were very concerned when we heard some heartfelt stories from infertile couples where perhaps resulting from rape cases women were later found to be infertile because of the damage done to their bodies. Those couples were seeking support for the second infertility treatment cycle and some even had to go to Australia for their treatment. We had to face that issue quite constantly. I thank the Minister for his compassion. 
Sitting suspended from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.