Greens move to extend subsidised IVF to gay couples, surrogates

The plan would extend already-announced Labor subsidies to open the door for any couple or person seeking to have a child but cannot do so physically to use altruistic surrogacy.

The Greens want to extend access to subsidised IVF to surrogates. Picture: iStock

All Australians who desire children but require a surrogate due to sexuality, gender, or injury would have access to government subsidised IVF under a multi-billion dollar Greens plan.

Under the Greens’ pitch the government’s already-increased access to IVF would be made to include fertility treatment for those using altruistic surrogacy.

This would open the door to subsidised IVF for gay male couples in particular, though in effect it would apply to any couple or person seeking to have a child but cannot do so physically to use altruistic surrogacy.

Greens leader Adam Bandt, flanked by Senator Larissa Waters, will make the pitch in the seat of Brisbane on Thursday, as part of a campaign blitz to keep the three seats the minor party won in Queensland at the 2022 election.

The federal health department, in late March, broadened the definition of infertility after years of campaigning from LGBTQI+ groups.

The Greens’ plan would extend Labor’s already-expanded IVF provisions further. Picture: Supplied

Up until then infertility had been defined as people who couldn’t conceive after a year of regular, unprotected sex.

It meant solo women and LGBTQI+ couples might have to pay the full out-of-pocket cost for their first IVF cycle, missing out on rebates worth thousands of dollars.

The new definition however is “the inability to achieve a successful pregnancy based on a patient’s medical, sexual, and reproductive history, age, physical findings, diagnostic testing, or any combinations of these factors”.

The Greens want to take that further and include IVF for altruistic surrogacy, in a move that has been called for by the same LGBTQI+ stakeholders.

“Altruistic surrogacy is legal nationwide, however the government neglected it in the new definition,” Senator Waters said.

“This leaves gay male intended parents without Medicare support for IVF, because they can not carry the pregnancy themselves, even though the treatment is identical to other infertility cases.

“Right now, those needing IVF due to genetics, sexuality, or injury are forced to pay $16,000 –$18,000 per cycle – three times what parents on Medicare support pay. Cost should not prohibit a future family.”

The Greens plan, costed before the government announced its changes, has a price tag of $4.5bn over the medium term.

Originally published as Greens move to extend subsidised IVF to gay couples, surrogates