Trounson applauds Bracks' stem cell support

Victorian Premier Steve Bracks was courageous for supporting the use of spare IVF embryos for stem cell research, leading researcher Prof Alan Trounson said.

Trounson was responding to comments by Melbourne Catholic Archbishop Denis Hart, who claimed in The Age newspaper on March 26 that the state and Federal governments were rushing their decisions on embryonic stem cell research and giving too much weight to scientists' views.

Hart criticised the Premier's decision to support embryonic stem cell research in Victoria.

Bracks has said Labor will support changes to the Victorian legislature to allow spare IVF embryos to be used for research.

"Unlike some of the other states, he has a much harder job," said Trounson.

Trounson said that thousands of frozen embryos were being thrown away in Victoria. "It seems unethical and immoral not to use them for research," he said.

He said that part of the Catholic Church's problem with the research was that it had not accepted IVF technology.

"They shouldn't have the dominant argument if the rest of the community supports the research," he said.

"I think this is a genuine revolution in medicine and one that scientists have to deliver," Trounson said. "The potential is there to treat almost any degenerative disorder or injury."