FED: Conroy to press colleagues on surrogacy laws

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2007
FED: Conroy to press colleagues on surrogacy laws

Federal cabinet minister STEPHEN CONROY will personally press his federal and state
government colleagues to adopt nationally-consistent surrogacy laws.

Senator CONROY has told the Nine Network he'll talk to Attorney General ROB MCCLELLAND
about possible changes .. and encourage states to introduce reforms .. so others don't
have to go through what his family's experienced.

The new communications minister and his wife PAULA BENSON last year created an Australian
first with the birth of their daughter ISABELLA following a double surrogacy.

Ms BENSON couldn't conceive after beating ovarian cancer .. so one family friend donated
an egg and another friend carried the baby to term in her womb.

The couple had to travel to NSW during the IVF process .. because surrogate births
are illegal in their home state of Victoria.

AAP RTV ag/rl/jec/jmt

KEYWORD: SURROGACY (CANBERRA)

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