Women's health

Assisted reproductive treatment legislative history

Assisted reproductive treatment (ART) was previously governed in South Australia by the Reproductive Technology (Clinical Practices) Act (SA) 1988. The Act set out licence provisions, access to treatment, record keeping and confidentiality provisions.

The Act also established the South Australian Council on Reproductive Technology (SACRT) to advise the Minister for Health on the medical, social, scientific, ethical, legal, and moral issues arising from assisted reproductive technologies and treatment.

Under the legislation, the functions of the SACRT were to:

formulate a code of ethical practice to govern artificial fertilisation procedures
provide advice to the Minister on conditions, licenses, and issues relating to reproductive technology
promote research and understanding of the causes of human infertility and ethical and social issues arising from reproductive technology.

The SACRT was required under the Reproductive Technology (Clinical Practices) Act 1988 to provide annual reports to the Minister for Health. It also published newsletters about current issues.

Annual reports

Newsletters

Autumn 2010
Archive (1999 to 2010)

Memoranda

Archive (Memoranda 1 to 14)

Ethics Health Advisory Council

Due to the changes within the Act, the SACRT no longer exists. An Ethics Health Advisory Council (EHAC) will provide advice to the Minister on health related ethical issues, including ART. Its rules were Gazetted in January 2010. For more details about the Ethics HAC, its function and its membership: