State & Territory websites

Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia

National websites

Australian Research Council
Biotechnology Australia
National Health and Medical
Research Council
Office of the Gene Technology
Regulator

Topics in bioethics

Access to the technology

Cultural and religious issues

Genetic modification

Genetic testing

Stem cells

Links

New South Wales

The NSW Government is committed to proactively identifying and managing risks associated with biotechnology innovation. It will also engage with the community on biotechnology issues, promote informed debate and respond to community concerns.

NSW is currently developing a NSW Life Sciences Regulatory Atlas. The Atlas will provide an accessible and comprehensive guide to the regulatory and ethical framework applicable to biotechnology and life sciences based research, innovation and product development in NSW.

For further information on the NSW ethical and regulatory framework for biotechnology and the life sciences please visit the NSW Ministry for Science and Medical Research website

The NSW Government, through the Ministry for Science and Medical Research, administers the following legislation, available from the NSW Legislation website:

• Human Cloning and Other Prohibited Practices Act 2003 - An Act to adopt in this State a uniform Australian approach to the prohibition of human cloning and certain other practices associated with reproductive technology.

• Research Involving Human Embryos (New South Wales) Act 2003 - An Act to apply the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 of the Commonwealth as a law of this State. The object of this Act is to adopt in this State a uniform Australian approach to the regulation of activities that involve the use of certain human embryos created by assisted reproductive technology.

• Gene Technology (New South Wales) Act 2003 - An Act to apply the Gene Technology Act 2000 and the Gene Technology (Licence Charges) Act 2000 of the Commonwealth as a law of this State.

• Gene Technology (GM Crop Moratorium) Act 2003 - An Act to enable a moratorium to be imposed on the cultivation of certain genetically modified plants.

Other legislation of particular relevance to the biotechnology sector is available from the NSW Legislation website and includes the following:

• New South Wales Human Tissue Act 1983

• The Cancer Institute Act 2003 (NSW) (joint responsibility with NSW Health)

• New South Wales Cancer Council Act 1995

• New South Wales Public Health Act 1991

• NSW Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act

• The Garvan Institute of Medical Research Act 1984 (NSW)

• The Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology Act 1985