Commonwealth Legislation
The Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 and the Prohibition of Human Cloning Act 2002 were passed by Parliament in December 2002. These Acts establish a strong regulatory framework to prohibit certain unacceptable practices including human cloning, and to regulate uses of excess human embryos created though assisted reproductive technology (ART).
The Commonwealth legislation was developed in response to community concerns, including ethical concerns, about scientific developments in relation to human reproduction and the use of human embryos.
Changes to this legislation as a result of the Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction and the Regulation of Human Embryo Research Amendment Act 2006 (formerly known as the Patterson Bill) came into effect in June 2007.
- Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction and the regulation of Human Embryo Research Amendment Act 2006 (PDF, 80KB)
- Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction Act 2002
- Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002
- Learn more about the 2001 human cloning reports from the House of Representatives, Parliament of Australia
State and Territory Legislation
On 5 April 2002, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed that the Commonwealth, States and Territories would introduce nationally consistent legislation to ban human cloning and other unacceptable practices and to regulate research involving excess ART embryos.
To find more information about State and Territory Legislation, follow the instructions below.
Australian Capital Territory
Once on the home page http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/default.asp
- Click on Acts located top left of page
- Under Acts Click on H and also R
-
Scroll down to click on Human Cloning and Other Prohibited
Practices Act 2003 No 20 and Research Involving Human Embryos (New South Wales) Act 2003 No 21
New Sou th Wales
Once on the home page http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/
- Click on Browse A-Z In Force top left of page
- Under Acts In Force click on H
- Scroll down and click on Human Cloning and Embryo Research Act 2004
Northern Territory
Legislation is currently being drafted in the Northern Territory.
Queensland
Once on the home page http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/OQPChome.htm
- Click on Legislation located top middle of the page
- Scroll down to Acts as passed
- Click on Acts passed 2003
- Scroll down and click on number 7 Research Involving Human Embryos and Prohibition of Human Cloning Act 2003
South Australia
Once on the home page http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/index.aspx
- Click on Acts located at the top of the page
- Click on either P or R in the first alphabetical list
- Scroll down to click on Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction Act 2003 and Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2003
Tasmania
Once on the home page http://www.thelaw.tas.gov.au
- Click on browse a-z
- Tick the Acts check box
- Click in the search field title starts with
- Type human
- Click search
- Scroll down and click on Human Cloning for Reproduction and Other Prohibited Practices Act 2003 (No. 51 of 2003) and Human Embryonic Research Regulation Act 2003 (No. 52 of 2003)
Victoria
Once on the home page http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/
- Click on Victoria Law Today
- Tick the Acts check box
- Click in the search field
- Type human
- Click start search
- Scroll down and click on Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2008 and Human Cloning for Reproduction 2008
Western Australia
Once on the home page http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/
- Click on Legislation
- Select the Acts and Regulations database
- Select Complete Act Titles
- Click on H in alphabet bar
- Scroll down and click on Human Reproductive Technology Act 1991