AJN
While reaffirming their support for assisted reproduction technology such as IVF, Melbourne’s Orthodox rabbis have expressed concern over aspects of new legislation currently before the Victorian Parliament.
The Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill will grant greater access to reproductive treatment, including IVF, and will grant greater parenting rights to parents of surrogate children.
Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV) president Rabbi Meir Shlomo Kluwgant said that Jewish tradition is comfortable with assisted reproduction, and supports access to IVF and many other technologies that allow infertile couples to have children.
“However, it does not support the use of IVF and other technologies of assisted reproduction to create children outside the classical model of mother and father,” he said.
The legislation, which was subject to a conscience vote by Labor MPs, passed through the Legislative Assembly, but remains in committee stage in the Legislative Council, as various elements are debated.
