Surrogacy political debate heats up in Queensland

Surrogacy political debate heats up in Queensland

This morning I was surprised to get in the mail a letter from the Right to Information officer of the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General, who told me that the reason that she was writing to me was that, as a third party, I was entitled to respond and if necessary object to a request under the Right to Information Act (a more open version of Freedom of Information) for a copy of the submission that I wrote to the Government about the proposed Surrogacy Bill. I posted the submission on this blog back in November.

                                                             

Who was the application by? The Opposition Leader, John-Paul Langbroek. The Opposition has its own version of the bill, which specifically excludes same sex couples, singles and heterosexual de facto couples who have not lived together for 2 years.  The fact that the Opposition is making this application to the Deparmtent shows that the political debate is heating up.

What surprised me the most was that I had always supposed that my submission was on the record anyway.

Request an Appointment
Fill in the form below to find out if you have a claim.
Request an Appointment - Stephen Page
Things to Read, Watch & Listen

Parenting plans vs consent orders explained

When parents separate, one of the most important questions is how arrangements for children will be recorded. Will the agreement be kept flexible through a parenting plan, or formalised in legally binding consent orders? There is no single answer that suits every family. The right option depends on the level of trust between parents, the… Read More »Parenting plans vs consent orders explained

Sperm donor family limit in Queensland explained

Queensland’s new sperm donor family limit was intended to create clarity, consistency and better access to donor sperm. Instead, guidance issued to IVF clinics has produced a result that appears to halve donor access for many lesbian couples. The legislation provides for a 10-family limit. Yet where two women are in a couple and seek… Read More »Sperm donor family limit in Queensland explained

NSW fertility inquiry: surrogacy evidence under scrutiny

The New South Wales Legislative Council fertility inquiry is examining difficult and practical questions about access to assisted reproductive treatment. Distance matters. Cost matters. Regulation matters. For many people trying to create a family, these are not abstract policy concerns. They can determine whether treatment is available at all. Among the issues before the inquiry… Read More »NSW fertility inquiry: surrogacy evidence under scrutiny

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