The Queensland Parliament will soon vote on cloning. Cloning involves removing the nucleus of a human egg and replacing it with the genetic material from a donor cell. The egg is then stimulated to initiate embryonic development. This new human embryo, a clone of the donor, is cultured to the blastocyst stage where the inner cell mass is extracted (destroying the embryo) to enable embryonic stem cells to be 'harvested'. New life, a clone of another human, is created and then destroyed. Supporters say that cloning will lead to cures. But there is no evidence. The Lockhart Report found that embryonic stem [ES] cell research findings have not yet translated into any clinical trials or Treatments... most of these trials have involved Adult Stem cells because, at this stage, ES cell research has not reached the stage needed to start clinical trials (ie proof of principle of a safe and efficacious treatment in animal models). Lockhart also found that "there are significant risks such as tumour formation" with ES cells. By contrast, researchers who use adult stem cells taken from patients themselves have well established clinical trials to support their case. They already study Parkinsons Disease, Motor Neuron Disease and many others. Researchers at Griffith University have shown that it is possible to grow heart, nerve, kidney, muscle and other cells from adult stem cells. I strongly oppose embryo cloning and lobbied the government to secure $21m funding for the world's first adult stem cell centre at Griffith University. We can have faith in these scientists to deliver good science and therapies efficiently and ethically. If Queensland allows cloning, nothing can stop our cloning technology from being used overseas to implant a cloned embryo in a woman's body. Cloning also needs lots of eggs. Lockhart said that getting these eggs from women carries significant risks, including, in very rare cases, infertility or even death and The need for oocytes may therefore lead to the exploitation of vulnerable women through financial or other incentives." Senate Committee evidence was given by four key scientists that existing laws allow further human embryonic stem cell research into the areas of proof of concept of treatment in animal experiments, overcoming their cancer problem and instability and learning whether disease-specific colonial embryonic stem cell lines will be helpful. All of these things can be studied now without any new law! There will be many emotive arguments in the call for cloning. It is important to remember that big money is tied up in ES cell research and cloning. If you are concerned about this enormous and unnecessary step to create human life in order to destroy it for material profits, then contact your state Member. The Senate vote was very close. To remain silent is to give up without a fight. ENDS