Fed: MPs could cross floor on IVF issue: de Bruyn

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2000
Fed: MPs could cross floor on IVF issue: de Bruyn

CANBERRA, Aug 17 AAP - Labor's refusal to allow a conscience vote on proposed changes
to restrict IVF access meant MPs and senators may consider crossing the floor of parliament,
union boss Joe de Bruyn said today.

Labor's national executive last night threw out a bid to force a conscience vote on the issue.

Mr de Bruyn, the shop assistants union boss, had forced an emergency meeting of the
21-member national executive to try and overturn the policy announced by Opposition Leader
Kim Beazley, which was endorsed by the Labor caucus.

The executive threw out the challenge from Mr de Bruyn 14 votes to seven after a three-hour
meeting.

"The parties have decided not to grant a conscience vote," Mr de Bruyn told ABC radio.

"And so now those people who do want a conscience vote in the parliament, both in the
House of Representatives and in the Senate, have been put into an awful position where
they will have to carefully weigh up for themselves how they will vote when the matter
comes on for a decision."

The federal government wants to amend discrimination laws to allow the states to ban
single women and lesbians from accessing IVF treatment.

Its legislation is expected to be introduced to parliament today.

AAP lm/gmw

KEYWORD: IVF DE BRUYN

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