New legislation tabled in Victoria

New donor conception legislation tabled in Victorian Parliament
Following its election commitment to amend donor conception laws, the Victorian Government this week tabled a Bill in parliament with proposed changes to the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 2008. The key elements of this Bill include:
All Victorian donor-conceived people, regardless of when they were born, will have a right to identifying information about their donor, without having to receive consent from their donor. This will mean that donor-conceived people born before 1998 will have the same rights as those born after 1998.
Contact preferences will be made available to donors and donor-conceived people, allowing them to determine the way in which contact with those with whom they are linked will occur. People will also have the option to choose a 'no contact' preference. If a contact preference is breached, a significant penalty may apply. Contact preferences will also be extended to those legal children of donors or donor-conceived people who are under the age of 18 years.
Responsibility for managing the central and voluntary registers will be moved to VARTA. The amendments will also enable VARTA to be the 'one door in' provider of support and information to donors, donor-conceived people and their families, as per recommendations made by the Parliamentary Law Reform Committee.
The Bill will be subject to readings, debate and possible change. It will need to be passed by both Houses of Parliament in order for it to become law.