Fed: Abbott asks colleagues to explain stemcell support

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2006
Fed: Abbott asks colleagues to explain stemcell support

SYDNEY, Aug 30 AAP - Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott has called on his parliamentary
colleagues to explain why they have changed their mind in favour of therapeutic cloning.

Mr Abbott has singled out his Liberals colleagues Kay Patterson and Mal Washer and
the Democrats senator Natasha Stott Despoja, demanding they justify their position, Fairfax
reported today.

Mr Abbott, who is opposed to relaxing stem cell research restrictions, said not one
of the nation's federal MPs or senators supported therapeutic cloning when parliament
voted in 2002 to restrict researchers to using surplus embryos from IVF programs.

After a subsequent review led by the late Federal Court judge John Lockhart, many MPs
and senators favour therapeutic cloning.

Mr Abbot said while Senator Patterson, Dr Washer and Senator Stott Despoja are entitled
to change their minds, they should explain to the public why.

Senator Patterson said she was not being inconsistent.

"We've had a review, it's been unequivocal and I feel strong about it as he feels strongly
about it," Senator Patterson said.

AAP acb/goc/

KEYWORD: STEMCELL ABBOTT

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