The Labor Government has passed new surrogacy laws that will establish a legal framework to regulate domestic surrogacy in the Northern Territory for the first time and outlaw surrogates making a profit.
The NT was the last jurisdiction in Australia without surrogacy laws.
Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the new laws would provide “legal clarity for Territorians entering into a surrogacy arrangement and ensures that a child born of such an arrangement has the same legal status and rights as any other child”.
“It also means people no longer need to leave the Territory to access surrogacy in other Australian jurisdictions or overseas,” she said.
The new laws aim to protect both the client and the surrogate from exploitation, ensuring that surrogates will have equal rights to manage their pregnancy and birth, Ms Fyles said.
The Bill, before being enacted, followed extensive groundwork, research and consultations with the public, the government said.
“We know not all families can follow the same path towards parenthood – for those where surrogacy is the best option, this Bill provides a pathway and framework,” Ms Fyles said.
0 Comments