By John Pascoe

Many would-be parents, who can offer a child a good life but cannot themselves conceive, experience an aching desire for a child to nurture and care for.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has enabled those with reproductive difficulties, and those who are unable to have a child naturally, to start a family. In many, indeed most situations this is a happy occasion. However, it is uncontroversial to say that ART, including surrogacy, has significantly outpaced the capacity of the law to keep up with the technology. And it is here that desires of would-be parents can come into conflict with the rights of the child.

Interview with child rights specialist Prof. Paula Gerber of Monash Law School

by Apolline Kempter

Compensated surrogacy is a flourishing yet controversial way for Australians to have a child. Some insist the practice should continue to be prohibited in Australia, believing it constitutes child trafficking, while others want to see it legalised and regulated, as a legitimate way for infertile people to start a family.