This week marks the commencement of the Territory's historic surrogacy legislation.
Territorians now have another option when it comes to starting their family, acknowledging not everyone's journey to parenthood is straight forward.
The newly enacted legislation establishes a statutory framework to regulate domestic surrogacy in the Northern Territory for the first time, and explicitly outlaws commercial surrogacy.
The Bill provides a pathway for the transfer of parentage of a child born of a surrogacy arrangement under the required statutory safeguards.
The rights of the child are at the forefront and includes protections to protect both parties from exploitation, and other protections such as ensuring surrogate mothers have the same rights to manage their pregnancies and birth.
Quotes from Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Natasha Fyles:
"We know not all families can follow the same path towards parenthood, but from this week they will have another option through surrogacy.
"This legislation, for the very first time, provides legal clarity for Territorians entering into a surrogacy arrangement and ensures that a child born of such an arrangement has the same legal status and rights as any other child.
"It also means people no longer need to leave the Territory to access surrogacy in other Australian jurisdictions or overseas."
Northern Territory Government
