Australia Lawmakers Debate Cloning Ban

Australia's Parliament on Thursday debated a bill that would lift the country's ban on cloning human embryos for stem cell research.

The debate in the House of Representatives was adjourned until Monday after 13 lawmakers gave speeches supporting the reforms for the sake of people with chronic diseases and nine denounced the bill as promoting unproven science that did not respect the human rights of the unborn.

The legislation narrowly passed the Senate by a 34-32 vote on Nov. 7.

Before the debate began, several lawmakers both for and against the reforms said they expected the legislation would pass.

Scientists hope stem cell research will eventually lead to treatments or cures for conditions including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, as well as spinal cord injuries, diabetes and arthritis.

Parliament passed Australia's first laws on stem cell research in 2002, allowing scientists to extract stem cells from spare embryos intended for in vitro fertilization but preventing cell cloning.

The bill would allow therapeutic cloning, the splicing of skin cells with eggs to produce stem cells, also known as master cells, which are capable of forming all the tissues of the human body.

Government lawmaker Gary Nairn said the death of his wife from cancer last year made him appreciate the need to help scientists further their search for a cure.

"For people suffering from these conditions ... hope is all they have to keep them going," Nairn told Parliament. "I cannot deny ... the chance of a cure for these people."

Opposition lawmaker Julia Irwin recalled her father's death from Huntington's disease, a degenerative neurological disorder.

"You may be able understand why I could not slam shut the door that may lead to treatments that prevent the ravages of diseases like Huntington's," Irwin said, adding that she would support the bill.

Independent lawmaker Peter Andren said research from adult stem cells was showing more promising results than embryonic stem cell research which, he said, under the proposed legislation would lead to the exploitation of women for their eggs.

"This is about creating life in order to dismantle it," Andren said.

Prime Minister John Howard said he had yet to decide what side he will take when the bill is expected to be voted on next week. All parties are allowing their lawmakers to vote according to their consciences rather than follow a party line.