Qld: Bligh says stem cell vote to be close

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2007
Qld: Bligh says stem cell vote to be close

BRISBANE, April 11 AAP - Queensland Deputy Premier Anna Bligh says she expects a close
vote on controversial state laws allowing therapeutic cloning.

Premier Peter Beattie yesterday said work had begun on drafting a bill mirroring federal
laws passed last year allowing scientists to clone human embryos to extract stem cells
for research purposes.

Previously, stem cells could be extracted only from embryos left over from the IVF process.

Mr Beattie said state MPs would get a conscience vote on the bill, but said he would
personally support it and hoped it would pass.

Ms Bligh said today she would also support it, but believed the vote would be tight.

"It will be watched with interest and it will be closer than most people think," she
told ABC radio.

Ms Bligh said scientists had convinced her that the research had the potential to unlock
cures for a range of serious illnesses.

She said MPs who backed the bill should not be denigrated for having a lesser view
of the value of human life.

"There are different but equally valid points of view on this issue," she said.

"You can support the bill out of respect for people living with these diseases ...

that is respecting human life."

Liberal leader Bruce Flegg, an experienced GP, said he was unconvinced of the need
for the new laws and doubted whether many of his colleagues would back them.

"It's a fairly big step to say let's create human life for the purpose of experimenting
with it," Dr Flegg said.

"I think it's the thin end of the wedge.

"When stem cells were first made available there were tight controls, now they are
wanting to liberalise that and I think that argument will continue for further liberalisation."

He said the research method was not essential to find cures for diseases such as Parkinson's
and spinal cord injuries.

Queensland parliament four years ago passed laws allowing embryonic stem cell research
under strict conditions and banning human cloning.

Sixty-five government, independent and opposition MPs, including then opposition leader
Lawrence Springborg, voted for the bill after a marathon two-day debate.

AAP pjo/jt/de

KEYWORD: STEMCELL QLD

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