A SENATE inquiry will look into the commercial interests that will benefit from embryo stem cell research.
Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee secretary Elton Humphrey said last Monday that some preliminary meetings had been held and that there would be public hearings, but not outside Canberra because of the inquiry’s short time frame. It is to report to Parliament on October 24. Written submissions would be accepted, however.
Mr Humphrey said the ill was the inquiry’s terms of reference, but he believed there would be little consideration of the bill’s section on cloning. The focus would be mainly on stem cells.
National Party Senate Leader, Senator Ron Boswell, who had the bill referred to the committee, said on August 21 the Senate had not had an opportunity to look in depth at associated issues.
‘The importance and complexity of embryo research and the immense interest from numerous groups and the general public warrant detailed examination by the Senate,’ he said.
‘This week has seen more conflicting reports from within the scientific research community as to whether claims of miracle cures from embryo stem cell research are sustainable.’
