A national inquiry into the protection of human genetic information has attracted an enormous amount of public interest and as a result the deadline has been extended by nine months until March 2003.

Australian Law Reform Commission President Professor David Weisbrot said the inquiry has attracted the expected interest from experts and interest groups but there has also been a big response from the community.

This investigation is a joint venture between the ALRC and the Australian Health Ethics Committee of the National Health and Medical Research Council. Professor Weisbrot said the time extension will further the community consultation process, including public meetings and written submissions.

He hopes the inquiry will ensure that Australia becomes a world leader in the protection of human genetic information through the review of ethical and professional standards and practices as well as the adequacy of existing privacy protection and anti-discrimination laws. 

“Other major issues raised in the submissions included the use of genetic information by insurance companies, the way in which medical researchers obtain and use (and sometimes re-use) genetic samples and information,” he said.

All of the submissions and comments will be compiled into a discussion paper planned for August.  It will form the basis of further national consultation before the report is completed in March next year.