ACT Limits on the Number of Families Using a Single Donor's Gametes or Embryos (Assisted Reproductive Technology)

Assisted Reproductive Technology Amendment Bill 2025

27 Mar 2025: Passed by Parliament and signed off by the governor.

This bill kicks in: TBA

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Topics

assisted reproductive technology donor consent donor rights embryo donation embryo research family planning fertility treatment gamete donation health healthcare reproductive health +6 more

Introduced by: The Hon Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA (ALP) — Minister for Finance, Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for the Public Service

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

Donors of gametes or embryos are presumed to have consented to their use for completing a family; they can still modify or withdraw this consent.
ART providers cannot use a donor's gametes or embryos if it would result in more than 5 families in the ACT or 10 families across Australia.
ART providers must provide mandatory information about donors that they have on record.
ART providers are exempt from certain donor information, reporting, and management rules for gametes or embryos allocated, used, or created before the end of the transitional period.
ART providers are exempt from certain rules when using subsequent gametes from the same donor for a person or their partner who previously became pregnant using that donor.
Public officials are protected from liability when performing their functions under the Act; this protection does not extend to ART providers.
ART providers are exempt from certain donor and family limits when using gametes or embryos allocated or created before the end of the transitional period.
ART providers must include all information kept under section 48 when providing mandatory donor information.

The Debate

What different members said when this bill was debated:

Rachel Stephen-Smith ALP

“I move: That this bill be agreed to in principle. I rise today to present the Assisted Reproductive Technology Amendment Bill 2025. Assisted Reproductive Technology, or ART, covers a range of medical procedures and treatments that give people the chance to have children when they otherwise might not be able to.”

Official source →

Leanne Castley IND

“I rise today to speak to the Assisted Reproductive Technologies Amendment Bill 2025.”

Official source →

Shane Rattenbury GRN

“I rise today to speak in support of the proposed Assisted Reproductive Technology Amendment Bill. These amendments will makeseveral changes totheAssistedReproductiveTechnologyAct,which wasenacted last year and made several important changes to clinical requirements for assisted reproductive technology providers.”

Official source →

Fiona Carrick IND

“I support this amendment. It is an important reconsideration of a cohort left in limbo due to transitional dates and provisions. It reinstates their rights to continuous ART treatment and support, and I thank the Murrumbidgee resident that brought this issue to my attention.”

Official source →