Buliej, that is exactly what I was thinking about when I asked that! WTF??? The donors would have no contact with the resulting child, why the HELL do they need to undergo checks? I wonder how this will impact on the variety, availability and price of donor eggs/sperm.
I dont have a criminal history but my DH does. Youthful indiscretions. If we were in VIC would I have to find someone else to have a baby with? So I would be punished for something I did not do. Any which way I look at this I see VIOLATION OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. But then again, I am biased.
As I understand it, it applies to anyone having an embryo transfer so donors are not included - phew!
As Julie said it was slipped in as a sweetner for the conservatives who were not comfortable bringing Victoria in line with other States/Territories and countries to allow gay/lesbian/single women access to IVF and surrogacy. All IVF clinics and ACCESS opposed it but it was passed through the upper house in Vic.
I agree SJ that it would be great to have someone challenge the law as discriminatory. As LTers have probably all experienced it is hard to fight a bigger fight like this and the threat to the Medicare Safety Net for IVF when you yourself are trying to barely cope with AC and infertility. I will support and cheer on anyone that is willing to take on Hull and his cronies!
I think pollies are still old school about contact because it deters the masses from actually getting up and doing something about an issue. Rob hull's DoJ website only has a mailing address:
121 Exhibition St
Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: 03 8684 0000
Digging a bit deeper, I found a few more contact details: I suspect the first one might get Mr Hull's attention
I have to psych myself up for another letter campaign (I used my reserves with the safety net issue). I feel bad because I think this is something so worth writing a letter - but I'm just so tired from all I've been through of late.
I did mail off the request for the reports - it is suppose to take 2 full work weeks. I be back here to report on turn around time.
I too am really peeved about this. I have emailed my local member and cc'd Mr Hulls into this a week ago and have heard nothing.... I should point out this was in response to a call I made where I was told this was legislation now and I should deal with it....
I was also advised they can do this because the state supports IVF.... yet to find out how. Last time I checked medicare was federal... having said that we soon may not have that either.
Email and make noise girls. We should not be penalized further.
I wonder if they will impose a safe sex policy for those that are blessed with the ability to do this without ART.....
Sorry I am all over the place. New to this and really really mad
I got up in arms about this last year before the legislation was introduced and went on a one woman emailing campaign. I emailed at least 10 people in government and didn't get so much as one courtesy reply. The problem is that I supported the rest of the legislation (the right to access to IVF for same sex couples). I think a lot of people thought if you have to take a little bad to get a big good then so be it. I think it is outrageous. My mum worked in child protection her whole working life and she lol when I told her about this. She thought it was a joke.
Although I strongly oppose this in concept, I went ahead and ordered reports for DH & myself. They took 5 days! I couldn't believe it - I put the requests in the mail last weekend, and Friday had the reports in hand. At least they were prompt.
At this point, I feel like the government is actually against our ivf journey - between the safety net issue and all these hurdles - it seems like they really don't want people who need AC to bother...but DH & I will keep plodding along...
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks