Surrogacy law reforms allowing gay couples to have children in Tasmania have been targeted in a new campaign from the Australian Christian Lobby.
Launched yesterday, the ‘Kids’ rights count’ campaign seeks to sway members of Tasmania’s parliament against the proposed amendments.
The ACL said the Surrogacy bill trampled on the rights of the child and have responded with the campaign, motivating people to contact Tasmanian politicians with their views against the legislation.
Tasmanian ACL director Mark Brown said the state should not go down the same path as others in allowing two men, two women and even single people to acquire a baby through surrogacy.
Brown said it was vital for the government to consider the best interests of the child to have a mother and a father and even proposed dividing the legislation to separate heterosexual surrogacy from homosexual surrogacy and single-parent surrogacy.
Gay Dads Australia co-moderator Rodney Chiang-Cruise said the ACL’s position was outdated and incorrect.
‘The ACL have always attacked surrogacy for anyone other than a married husband and wife,’ Cruise-Chiang said.
‘The ACL again continue to ignore the key points that make a happy, successfully family unit. Children born via surrogacy, be it altruistic surrogacy or commercial surrogacy, are children that are wanted.
‘They are not conceived thoughtlessly after six Bicardi Breezers in the back of a Barina!’
Chiang-Cruise said the gender, sexuality or marital status of parents no longer mattered as long as the children were ‘wanted, loved and nurtured’.
‘Clearly the parliaments are reflecting what the community wants and expects. In this case, the parliaments are rightly ignoring the ACL’s shrill outbursts,’ he said.
‘I fully believe that the Tasmanian parliament will follow Victoria, NSW and Queensland in passing this important legislation thereby allowing Tasmanian same sex couples and singles access to altruistic surrogacy in that state.’
Tasmania’s Attorney-General David Bartlett tabled the bill on Tuesday this week and said the priority of the reform was the best interests of the child.
‘The most crucial thing a young child can have is loving, devoted parents – regardless of whether that’s a man and woman, unmarried people or same-sex couples,’ Bartlett said.
‘This is a key step towards removing discrimination, and providing fair, equal and responsible access to surrogacy, for all Tasmanians who want to be parents.
‘If this reform leads to more Tasmanian children growing up with loving, devoted parents, and getting the very best start in life, it’ll be extremely worthwhile.’
Under the Surrogacy Contracts Act 1993, surrogacy agreements are presently illegal in Tasmania.
According to the Attorney-General’s office, the proposed legislation will bring Tasmania into line with other Australian states and territories.
Benn Dorrington
Image: TCJ2020 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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