NT parliament: Unity vote gives birth to ‘life changing’ surrogacy law

Leaders were brought to tears as historic surrogacy rules were passed in a moment of unity in the Territory parliament.

UPDATE 6AM, FRI MAY 13: HISTORIC parenting legislations to protect children, surrogates and parents have passed in an emotional act of unity on the floor of the NT parliament.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the passage of the Surrogacy Bill 2022 on Thursday brought the NT’s protections in line with the rest of Australia.

“We know not all families can follow the same path towards parenthood. For those where surrogacy is the best option, this Bill provides a pathway and framework,” Ms Fyles said.

She said for the first time there was legal clarity for Territorians entering into a surrogacy arrangement.

“(It) ensures that a child born of such an arrangement has the same legal status and rights as any other child,” Ms Fyles said.

Attorney-General Selena Uibo it was “life-changing” bills like this that made her proud to be a member of parliament.

Attorney-General Selena Uibo. Picture: Che Chorley

Ms Uibo paused, choked by emotion as she described the struggle of her friend who at 47 had used an international surrogate.

“Her journey has been long and complex … I really hope she is enjoying the long sleepless nights that come with being a first-time mother,” Ms Uibo said while wiping away tears.

“The pathway to building a family should be as unique as the family themselves.”

Ms Uibo said the laws also prevented “exploitative practices”, setting minimum age requirements, surrogate protections and explicitly outlawing commercial surrogacy.

Opposition Health spokesman Bill Yan commended the bill.

“This has been a gap in a Northern Territory for people wishing to start families,” Mr Yan said.

INITIAL, THURS MAY 12: CRIES of “shame” rang out across the floor of parliament after a proposal for a review of police and crime in the Territory was shut down once again.

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro tabled a motion on Thursday to set up a select parliamentary committee for a comprehensive review of Territory policing.

This the second time the Country Liberal Party has proposed the committee before being dismissed.

Ms Finocchiaro said crime and police were the number one issue for Territorians, calling out the successive “failures in breaking the cycles of crime”.

The latest Territory crime statistics found 10,092 Territorians were the victims of a violent crime, the equivalent of one in 20 people.

Almost one in 10 Territorians had suffered a property offence over the same period.

“We need to get to the bottom of this, to the truth to the source of the issues,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Ms Finocchiaro called for more police to be employed, saying a Northern Territory Police Association survey found 77 per cent of members believed there were not enough officers.

“That’s coming from police. If you ask the average punter they will agree,” she said.

Ms Finocchiaro proposed that police staffing, welfare, resourcing, infrastructure and the “crime crisis” would form the key issues for the committee.

She said these issues were at the heart of the wider symptoms of long emergency wait times, endemic property crimes, low officer moral, high attrition rates and mental health services.

It comes as the police community is in mourning following three suicides of former and services Territory officers over three months.

The opposition’s call for a parliamentary committee comes only a month after Police, Fire and Emergency Services concluded their own independent review into the employee support services.

Outside parliament Ms Finocchiaro said the proposal was not just another bureaucratic process or political sideshow, saying the committee would have a broader scope than just officer welfare.

Ms Finocchiaro said the proposed committee would consult with everyone, from rank and file members, community leaders, non-government organisations, victims of crime — even offenders themselves.

She called for an approach that went beyond party lines, bringing in government, opposition and independent members to the proposed committee.

“Put down your egos, put down the political swords … put down your preconceived opinions,” Ms Finocchiaro told the parliament.

Despite calling for wide consultation and a nonpartisan approach, Ms Finocchiaro said the CLP would not stop its tough on crime approach even if stakeholders opposed their measures.

“We make no apologies for putting the rights of Territorians above the rights of offenders,” she said.

Police Minister Nichole Manison said all Territorians “deserve to feel safe” and know that “if something terrible happens to them, or someone they love, there will be justice”.

Labor Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison listens to opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

But the Police Minister said there was no need to hold the parliamentary committee, as it would be a distraction from more immediate issues.

“We will not be supporting this motion today, we’re going to get on the job of doing what Territorians need today,” she said.

The acting Chief Minister said the government was doing more than just a $64m police funding boost in the 2022-23 budget, with funding to address the intergenerational and root causes of crime like poverty, trauma, alcohol abuse and poor housing.

Ms Manison was heckled as cried of “shame on you,” “you don’t care about crime” came from across the floor.

Ms Finocchiaro was critical of Ms Manison’s gagging debate.

“The Labour government want to avoid scrutiny at all costs, even in the face of insulting territory to care about crime and our police who are desperately crying out for help,” she said.

Ms Ms Finocchiaro committed to keep pushing the motion until the parliamentary committee was approved.