In November 2011, the Government responded to three reports on gene patents and patentable subject matter:
- Senate Community Affairs References Committee Gene Patents Report
- Advisory Council on Intellectual Property report Patentable Subject Matter
- Australian Law Reform Commission report Genes and Ingenuity: Gene Patenting and Human Health.
The Government accepted recommendations to amend the Patents Act 1990 to introduce:
- an objects clause to assist in the interpretation of the Act, and
- an exclusion from patentability for inventions, the commercialisation of which would be considered wholly offensive by the Australian public.
A consultation paper was released to encourage discussion and seek views on the proposed amendments:
Consultation Paper PDF
Consultation Paper PDF 
in PDF format [154.03 KB]
in PDF format [154.03 KB] Consultation Paper DOC
Consultation Paper DOC 
in Microsoft Office document format [2.04 MB]
in Microsoft Office document format [2.04 MB] We invited interested parties to make written submissions by 27 September 2013 and, in particular, sought responses to the questions posed in the paper.
Public submissions
We received the following submissions:
Ausbiotech submission PDF
Ausbiotech submission PDF in PDF format [146.02 KB]
in PDF format [146.02 KB] Ausbiotech submission DOC
Ausbiotech submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [303.2 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [303.2 KB] Civil Liberties Australia submission PDF
Civil Liberties Australia submission PDF in PDF format [145.02 KB]
in PDF format [145.02 KB] Civil Liberties Australia submission DOC
Civil Liberties Australia submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [51 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [51 KB] Civil Liberties Australia attachment PDF
Civil Liberties Australia attachment PDF in PDF format [120.2 KB]
in PDF format [120.2 KB] Civil Liberties Australia attachment DOC
Civil Liberties Australia attachment DOC in Microsoft Office document format [483.18 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [483.18 KB] Department of health submission PDF
Department of health submission PDF in PDF format [142.2 KB]
in PDF format [142.2 KB] Department of health submission PDF
Department of health submission PDF in Microsoft Office document format [199.03 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [199.03 KB] Dr Ann Cahill & Professor Natalia Stoianoff submission DOC
Dr Ann Cahill & Professor Natalia Stoianoff submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [949.66 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [949.66 KB] Dr Chris Dent submission PDF
Dr Chris Dent submission PDF in PDF format [79.33 KB]
in PDF format [79.33 KB] Dr Chris Dent submission DOC
Dr Chris Dent submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [80 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [80 KB] Dr Hazel Moir submission PDF
Dr Hazel Moir submission PDF in PDF format [270.19 KB]
in PDF format [270.19 KB] Dr Hazel Moir submission DOC
Dr Hazel Moir submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [580.74 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [580.74 KB] Generic Medicines Industry Association submission PDF
Generic Medicines Industry Association submission PDF in PDF format [314.06 KB]
in PDF format [314.06 KB] Generic Medicines Industry Association submission DOC
Generic Medicines Industry Association submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [274.1 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [274.1 KB] Human Genetics Society of Australasia submission PDF
Human Genetics Society of Australasia submission PDF in PDF format [144.98 KB]
in PDF format [144.98 KB] Human Genetics Society of Australasia submission DOC
Human Genetics Society of Australasia submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [293.05 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [293.05 KB] International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (APPI) submission DOC
International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (APPI) submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [145.98 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [145.98 KB] Institute of Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys submission DOC
Institute of Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [76.51 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [76.51 KB] James & Wells Intellectual Property submission PDF
James & Wells Intellectual Property submission PDF in PDF format [44.96 KB]
in PDF format [44.96 KB] James & Wells Intellectual Property submission DOC
James & Wells Intellectual Property submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [119.13 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [119.13 KB] Law Council of Australia submission PDF
Law Council of Australia submission PDF in PDF format [2.26 MB]
in PDF format [2.26 MB] Law Council of Australia submission DOC
Law Council of Australia submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [77.32 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [77.32 KB] Medicines Australia submission PDF
Medicines Australia submission PDF in PDF format [52.48 KB]
in PDF format [52.48 KB] Medicines Australia submission DOC
Medicines Australia submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [130.94 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [130.94 KB] New Zealand Institute of Patent Attorneys submission DOC
New Zealand Institute of Patent Attorneys submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [1.15 MB]
in Microsoft Office document format [1.15 MB] Pirate Party submission PDF
Pirate Party submission PDF in PDF format [34.79 KB]
in PDF format [34.79 KB] Pirate Party submission DOC
Pirate Party submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [91.4 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [91.4 KB] Professor Andrew Christie submission PDF
Professor Andrew Christie submission PDF in PDF format [124.42 KB]
in PDF format [124.42 KB] Professor Andrew Christie submission PDF
Professor Andrew Christie submission PDF in Microsoft Office document format [40.92 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [40.92 KB] ResMed submission PDF
ResMed submission PDF in PDF format [147.91 KB]
in PDF format [147.91 KB] ResMed submission DOC
ResMed submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [355.56 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [355.56 KB] Telstra Corporation Limited submission PDF
Telstra Corporation Limited submission PDF in PDF format [195.81 KB]
in PDF format [195.81 KB] Telstra Corporation Limited submission DOC
Telstra Corporation Limited submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [136.7 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [136.7 KB] The Australian Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys FICPA submission DOC
The Australian Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys FICPA submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [164.15 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [164.15 KB] The Law Institute of Victoria submission PDF
The Law Institute of Victoria submission PDF in PDF format [269.42 KB]
in PDF format [269.42 KB] The Law Institute of Victoria submission DOC
The Law Institute of Victoria submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [247.14 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [247.14 KB] The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists DOC
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists DOC in Microsoft Office document format [91.44 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [91.44 KB] The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia submission DOC
The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [103.16 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [103.16 KB] The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research DOC
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research DOC in Microsoft Office document format [231.72 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [231.72 KB] University of Tasmania submission DOC
University of Tasmania submission DOC in Microsoft Office document format [87.5 KB]
in Microsoft Office document format [87.5 KB] Privacy and confidentiality notice
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