Inquiry into Gene Patents
Terms of Reference
Download terms of reference (PDF 71KB)
The Senate has
referred the following matter to the Community Affairs Committee for
inquiry and report by the last sitting day of 2009:
The impact of the granting of
patents in Australia over human and microbial genes and non-coding
sequences, proteins, and their derivatives, including those materials in
an isolated form, with particular reference to:
(a) the impact which the
granting of patent monopolies over such materials has had, is having, and
may have had on:
(i) the provision and costs
of healthcare,
(ii) the provision of
training and accreditation for healthcare professionals,
(iii) the progress in medical
research, and
(iv) the health and wellbeing
of the Australian people;
(b)
identifying measures that would ameliorate any
adverse impacts arising from the granting of patents over such materials,
including whether the Patents Act 1990 should be amended, in light
of the any matters identified by the inquiry; and
(c)
whether the Patents Act 1990
should be amended so as to expressly prohibit the grant of patent
monopolies over such materials.
Written
submissions are invited and should be addressed to:
The Secretary
Senate Community Affairs
Committee
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Closing
date for the receipt of submissions is 19 March 2009.
The Committee prefers to receive submissions
electronically as an attached document - email:
community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au
Submissions become Committee documents and
are made public only after a decision by the Committee. Publication of
submissions includes loading them onto the internet and their being
available to other interested parties including the media. Persons making
submissions must not release them without the approval of the Committee.
Submissions are covered by parliamentary privilege but the unauthorised
release of them is not protected.
Following consideration of submissions, the
Committee will hold public hearings. The Committee will consider all
submissions and may invite individuals and organisations to give evidence
at the public hearings.
Information relating to
Senate Committee inquiries, including notes to assist in the preparation
of submissions for a Committee, can be located on the internet at
http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/wit_sub/index.htm
For further details contact the Committee
Secretary, Phone: (02) 6277 3515, Fax: (02) 6277 5829.
E-mail:
community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au
For further information, contact:
Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia
Website feedback: web.senate@aph.gov.au
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