Fed: Federal govt joins High Court IVF challenge

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2001
Fed: Federal govt joins High Court IVF challenge

The federal government will join an effort by the Catholic Church to ban single women
from accessing IVF services.

The Federal Court ruled last year that Victorian woman LISA MELDRUM was entitled to
use IVF as Victorian laws stopping her -- because of her marital status -- were incompatible
with the federal Sex Discrimination Act.

Attorney-General DARYL WILLIAMS says the Commonwealth will join in the High Court challenge
by the Catholic Church to the Federal Court decision.

In the High Court, the Commonwealth will argue the Sex Discrimination Act does not
override the Victorian act.

Amendments to the act to enable states to make laws exempting single or lesbian women
from accessing IVF are still before federal parliament and are not guaranteed passage.

Mr WILLIAMS says the government had decided to join the case, as the Catholic Church
challenge will not look at the constitutional issues.





A directions hearing will be held on a date to be set.

AAP RTV fh/sw/jtb/jn

KEYWORD: IVF (CANBERRA)

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