"A ban on therapeutic stem cell research in NSW has been lifted after upper house MPs last night... 28 votes to 13. The NSW legislation mirrors a law passed by Federal Parliament in December and is similar to a bill passed by Victoria's Parliament in May"

"the NSW Legislative Assembly became the latest house of parliament to approve the ground-breaking technology with an overwhelming 65-26 conscience vote"

"2 of the state's highest-profile practising Catholics, the Premier, Morris Iemma, and his deputy, John Watkins, will defy the church's warnings that they face "consequences" in their religious lives to support a bill to expand stem cell research in NSW."

"But both the Anglican and Catholic churches are asking MPs to vote against the bill."

"If passed, the legislation would bring NSW in line with the Commonwealth, which overturned a ban on therapeutic cloning in December 2006."

"Premier Morris Iemma yesterday announced he would introduce a Bill which would allow scientists in NSW to obtain stem cells from embryos through SCNT. This is currently outlawed in NSW... which has prompted scientists to threaten to leave NSW"