Rachel asked the Minister for Health what the government is doing to ensure the uniform regulation of assisted reproductive treatment.
Tuesday the 17th of June 2025,
Victorian Legislative Council
Rachel Payne (South-Eastern Metropolitan):
My question is for Minister for Health in the other place. Only a few weeks ago we heard the shocking story of a Queensland patient who gave birth to a stranger’s child as a result of an incorrect embryo transfer, and now Monash IVF have admitted another error: a Victorian patient’s own embryo was transferred instead of their partner’s. The Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand have been calling for a national reform approach to ensure uniform regulation of fertility care, including IVF. While I commend the minister for leading calls for the immediate implementation of a regulator, I understand that a national meeting of health ministers failed to reach a consensus on this proposal.
So my question is: what else is the minister doing to push for the uniform regulation of IVF to be on the national agenda?
Ingrid Stitt (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs):
I would be very happy to refer that question to the Minister for Health for a written response in accordance with the standing orders.
Rachel Payne (South-Eastern Metropolitan):
I thank the minister for referring my question on. By way of supplementary, I understand that the Victorian health regulator is currently investigating the incident in Victoria.
Can the minister advise when this investigation will be completed and whether its findings will be publicly available?
Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs):
Thanks, Ms Payne. I will pass that supplementary on, and I am sure you will get a written response very soon.
Response received 20th of June 2025:
Health Ministers around the country have requested that Health Chief Executives undertake a rapid review of the regulatory and accreditation environment for the ART and IVF sectors and identify opportunities for improvement and action, to be reported back within 3 months. This includes consideration of whether a national regulatory approach would deliver benefit. Further detail is available in the Health Minsters’ Meeting Communique of 13 June 2025.
Given Victoria’s established legislative and regulatory framework and recent reforms to strengthen compliance and enforcement powers, we are in a position to make valuable contributions to the review. I will consider the review outcomes with great interest and continue to call for strong accreditation and regulation nationally.
In relation to the specific incident in Victoria that has been reported in the media, a thorough investigation is underway. The Health Regulator does not comment on active investigations. Detailed findings of investigations are generally not made public.
The Hon Mary-Anne Thomas MP
Minister for Health
Minister for Ambulance Services
Related:
> Assisted reproductive treatment regulation – Rachel Payne
> Assisted Reproductive Treatment – Surrogacy legislation – Rachel Payne
> Inclusive and accessible assisted reproductive treatment – Rachel Payne
> Health Legislation Amendment (Legislative Reform) Bill 2024 – Rachel Payne
> Modernising Surrogacy Laws – Rachel Payne
