The Regulation of Human Germline Genome Modification in Australia

Australia has a long history of engagement with innovative reproductive technologies. Indeed, the development of modern artificial reproductive technologies (ART) was pioneered in Australia in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In parallel, some of the states of Australia were early adopters of legislation aimed at regulating certain forms of ART and prohibiting others. Since then, a number of other statutes have been enacted across Australia that have direct bearing on the practice of human germline genome modification and research involving human embryos.