In a late night session of parliament in June 2012, Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie announced the Queensland Government’s plans to introduce a Bill to drastically limit Queenslanders’ access to surrogacy to have children. The state had only legalised surrogacy in 2010.
It was proposed that the Bill would repeal the aspects of the Surrogacy Act allowing single people, same-sex couples and de facto couples to use altruistic surrogates. This form of surrogacy, as distinct from commercial surrogacy, involves a surrogate mother agreeing to carry a child for intended parents without receiving any payment.
It is now believed that the Bill has been quietly shelved after moderates in the party expressed dissent at the plans, including Premier Campbell Newman. The LNP’s latest six month plan (which was released in January) makes no mention of a Surrogacy Bill or any proposed amendments to the Surrogacy Act.
Cooper Grace Ward’s family law team has extensive experience in assisting clients with surrogacy arrangements and can help you to comply with the many compulsory legal procedures currently required of parties hoping to become parents or surrogates in Queensland.
Surrogacy is a complex issue involving a number of individuals whose expectations and interests can be very different. Our family law team, which includes three accredited family law specialists, is able to draw on its members’ expertise to develop a strategy that best suits your unique circumstances.
Cooper Grace Ward is proud of its commitment to outstanding client service and gratified to contribute to helping people fulfil their desire to have children.
