The New South Wales Parliament will have a conscience vote to decide on a bill that would grant parental rights to couples who have a child through surrogacy.
The surrogacy laws introduced in the Upper House last night by the Attorney General, John Hatzistergos, lay out regulations for altruistic surrogacy arrangements.
It says that if the birth mother is at least 25 and she and the intended parents have received legal advice and counseling, parental orders can be sought.
Mr. Hatzistergos added that commercial surrogacy remains an offence but birth mothers can recover some costs such as medical expenses. “What we're trying to do through this legislation is provide a vehicle…The law will say to them, if you follow this process you will be able to have a formal parenting order obtained quickly after the birth of that child which recognizes the rights and obligations that flow in the same way it flows from a normal birth,” he said.
Labor MPs will be given a conscience vote; however the legislation has not yet been discussed by the Coalition party room.
The bill will be debated next week.