Importing & Exporting Eggs, Sperm & Embryos into and out of Australia

Importing & Exporting Eggs, Sperm & Embryos into and out of Australia

Thinking about bringing eggs, sperm, or embryos into or out of Australia? You must know the rules — and trust us, they’re not the same everywhere! In this video, world-renowned fertility and family lawyer Stephen Page walks you through the complicated legal maze of importing and exporting reproductive materials across Australia’s states and territories.

What we cover:

  • The difference in laws between QLD, NSW, ACT, SA, VIC, WA, NT & TAS
  • Written consent requirements from donors
  • Why altruistic donation is mandatory in Australia
  • Family limits (and why WA has the strictest rules!)
  • Major changes in Victoria — goodbye VARTA, hello Department of Health!
  • Why clinics can’t export for commercial surrogacy (and what the Fertility Society says)

Key takeaways:

  • Every state is different, and compliance is critical!
  • You’ll need counseling and must prepare to be open with donor-conceived children when they turn 16 or 18.
  • Exporting for commercial surrogacy? Don’t do it — it breaches the code of practice.
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Australia prides itself on fairness and the rule of law, yet it remains the only western common law country without a national Human Rights Act or bill of rights. That absence is not merely theoretical. It has practical, often profound consequences for people navigating assisted reproductive treatment, IVF and surrogacy. The legal gap and why… Read More »Why Australia Needs a Human Rights Act

Family Law Section Law Council of Australia Award
Member of Queensland law society
Family law Practitioners Association
International Academy of Family Lawyers - IAFL
Mediator Standards Board