We address two urgent challenges for the ART sector: the lack of nationally consistent legislation and regulation, and the need for a regulatory authority that is independent of the ART sector.
We propose establishing an independent regulator called the Australian Fertility and Embryo Authority (AFEA), modelled on the UK's HFEA. We outline how this could address key weaknesses with the current approach to governance of ART in Australia: equity of access, commercial interests, and consumer engagement and conflict resolution.