Australia | Northern Territory | "We want to pay you to carry our baby, say Darwin couple"

ONE Darwin couple is so desperate to have a baby they are willing to pay someone up to $30,000 to carry their child.

The gay couple need the help of a surrogate to have a biological child of their own and want the NT Government to allow them to freely advertise for and pay their future surrogate.

The NT is the only jurisdiction in Australia with no surrogacy laws, which means Territorians can’t — legally — carry a baby for someone in the NT.

“I don’t see why it would be an issue to compensate them for their services,” one partner said. “We know it’s a large sacrifice to offer to become a surrogate for someone and the demands on her body, and her mental state and her ability to work.

“We’re looking for the best outcome for the baby, the surrogate mother and the intending parents.”
They’re prepared to pay $30,000 to the woman who will carry their baby, and cover her accommodation, food and medical bills. The couple fear unless they can advertise for and pay a surrogate, they won’t be able to start a family of their own.

To access IVF surrogacy, people have to move interstate or travel overseas. This year, Australian Surrogacy president Sam Everingham hopes the NT Government will introduce surrogacy laws.
Mr Everingham said it would be “ideal” to pay surrogates for their generosity but he didn’t see commercial surrogacy as something which would be supported in Australia. “Surrogates should be entitled to generous expense payments,” he said.

Health Minister and NT Attorney-General Natasha Fyles confirmed the government was considering introducing surrogacy legislation, but didn’t say if she’d consider allowing families to advertise for and pay surrogates. Earlier this year, Ms Fyles said the government would wait until SA introduced its new laws before the NT followed.

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