Premium Content:

Peter Abetz says laws should change to allow surrogacy discrimination

Peter Abetz from the Australian Christian Lobby says WA’s laws which currently allow single women access to surrogacy were unintentionally created, and has called for federal anti-discrimination laws to be amended to stop single men and same-sex male couples gaining access to surrogacy.

- Advertisement -

Speaking on the Australian Christian Lobby’s Voice for Values video blog, the former politician said he knew from his time in parliament that allowing single women to access surrogacy was never the intention of the legislation.

Since losing his Southern River seat at the last state election Abetz has moved on to become a councillor at the City of Gosnells and now holds the role of State Director of the Australian Christian Lobby.

“Surrogacy legislation went through in Western Australia in 2008 and it limited surrogacy to couples, and there was a loophole in it which somehow allowed single females access to have access it, which was not the intention of the legislation.” Abetz said.

The ACL Director said the McGowan government was now trying to change the laws so single men, and same-sex male couples, could not claim discrimination.

The bill passed the lower house earlier this month and is scheduled to be debated by the legislative assembly in coming weeks.

The former MP said he believes the current Labor government should work with the federal Morrison government to change federal anti-discrimination laws so surrogacy could be exempt from discrimination claims.

Abetz said it was “clearly wrong” to create children who would not know either their mother or father. The lobbyist dismissed studies that suggest same-sex parents are equally capable of raising children, saying such studies were “unreliable”.

Abetz said Western Australian voters should be concerned about the Labor party’s policies ahead of the next election because they were trying to “foist” transgender issues upon society.

OIP Staff


Latest

Helped needed with a cat overload at the Cat Haven

Helped in needed after 30 cats were surrendered from one owner.

Documentary on Merchant Ivory highlights their long personal and professional relationship

For decades James Ivory and Ismail Merchant kept their personal relationship secret.

PrideFEST: Queer Prom celebrates all things bright, bold and beautiful

Queer Prom promises a world of colourful camp and glittery glitz especially made for LGBTQIA+ young folks here in WA.

Callout for Transgender Day of Remembrance speakers and performers

Transgender Day of Remembrance is coming up later this month, an important opportunity to honour trans and gender diverse lives.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Helped needed with a cat overload at the Cat Haven

Helped in needed after 30 cats were surrendered from one owner.

Documentary on Merchant Ivory highlights their long personal and professional relationship

For decades James Ivory and Ismail Merchant kept their personal relationship secret.

PrideFEST: Queer Prom celebrates all things bright, bold and beautiful

Queer Prom promises a world of colourful camp and glittery glitz especially made for LGBTQIA+ young folks here in WA.

Callout for Transgender Day of Remembrance speakers and performers

Transgender Day of Remembrance is coming up later this month, an important opportunity to honour trans and gender diverse lives.

Review | ‘The Moogai’ exposes horror of intergenerational trauma

“The Stolen Generation is such a massive wound in the psyche of Australia, but it is often thought of as something in the past."

Helped needed with a cat overload at the Cat Haven

Helped in needed after 30 cats were surrendered from one owner.

Documentary on Merchant Ivory highlights their long personal and professional relationship

For decades James Ivory and Ismail Merchant kept their personal relationship secret.

PrideFEST: Queer Prom celebrates all things bright, bold and beautiful

Queer Prom promises a world of colourful camp and glittery glitz especially made for LGBTQIA+ young folks here in WA.