26 November 2001

WHERE DOES NEW ZEALAND STAND ON HUMAN CLONING?

United Future leader, Hon Peter Dunne, is calling on the Government to state clearly where it stands on human cloning issues, in the light of United States' reports that human cloning has happened there.

"The ethical and professional issues surrounding this issue cannot be avoided or delayed any longer."

"The United States moves will put human cloning on the agenda of virtually every nation, and it is vital that proper and considered responses be developed."

"Governments cannot afford to duck for cover any longer," he says.

Mr Dunne says he is aware the New Zealand government has been developing policy on this issue for some time, but now needs to take far more decisive action.

"The immediate risk created by the American moves is that cloning will start to occur on a more widespread basis before Governments have got their policy act together, and that it could all be too late."

"I doubt anyone wants to see cloning techniques used to produce so-called master races, or believes that that form of genetic manipulation, or anything remotely approaching that, is in any way ethically acceptable."

"But where one draws the line is far more problematic, from a technological and ethical standpoint, and therefore demands that this issue be approached with extreme caution."

"United Future has a passionate commitment to life, liberty and equality, and believes there can be no compromise on these values in determining policy on this issue," Mr Dunne says.

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