ACT Right to Access Donor Register Information for Donor Conceived People

Assisted Reproductive Technology Amendment Bill 2025 (No 2)

15 Dec 2025: Passed by Parliament and signed off by the governor.

This bill kicks in: TBA

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Topics

assisted reproduction donor conception donor registers family identity health information healthcare information sharing medical records privacy public health

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:

The director-general must give mandatory and voluntary donor information to adult donor conceived persons; this includes details about donor siblings.
For donor conceived persons aged 16 to 17 who have not been assessed by a counsellor, the director-general must provide limited information; the donor's full name, date of birth, place of birth, and home address will only be shared if the donor gives written consent.
The director-general must provide specific donor register information to the parents of a donor conceived child or young person; the donor's full name, date of birth, place of birth, and home address are only shared if the donor gives written consent.
A 'mature donor conceived person' is defined as someone who is at least 16 years old or has been assessed by a counsellor.
A person is considered 'assessed by a counsellor' if a qualified counsellor confirms they understand that the donor has no parental rights or financial responsibilities, and that they will follow the donor's contact preferences.
The director-general must give donor register information to adults who were conceived using a donor, or to younger people who have been assessed by a counsellor.

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 to present the Assisted Reproductive Technology Amendment Bill 2025 (No 2), which introduces important amendments to the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2024.”

Official source →

Leanne Castley IND

“The opposition recognises the need and the urgency which sit behind this bill, and so we will be supporting it today. We know this issue is seriously affecting local families who are relying on these technologies, and so we want to see it resolved as soon as possible.”

Official source →

Shane Rattenbury GRN

“I rise to speak in support of the amendments to the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act. They are amendments that represent a difficult but ultimately reasonable compromise in the face of the current crisis in donated gamete supply in the ACT.”

Official source →