In 2002, the Federal Parliament passed legislation to allow the creation of embryonic stem cells from spare fertilised eggs, thereby allowing research into the potential use of these cells in diabetes and other medical conditions, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's disease and Motor neurone disease, as well as spinal cord injury. Last year, after the release of the Lockhart report, Parliament enacted further legislation to allow the creation of embryonic stem cells from unfertilised eggs by a process called nuclear transfer, or therapeutic cloning.

In parallel with this research is that with stem cells from both cord blood and adults. My group, for example, is working to determine the usefulness of this approach. Success in converting either cord blood or nasal stem cells into insulin-producing cells would be an important contribution to the mix of potential stem cell therapies which we hope will become available to those suffering from diabetes and other medical conditions.

However, all this is for the future. The reality at present is that we have no clinical therapy from any form of stem cells to treat insulin-dependent diabetes or other conditions like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, motor neurone disease, and spinal cord injury. It is mandatory that approaches using all forms of stem cells be supported. Not to do so would be doing a disservice to the large number of Australians with these and other disorders. After intensive public debate, the Australian Parliament has passed legislation to enable this to happen. Last week, Victoria passed complementary legislation. NSW parliamentarians, who will soon be asked to vote on this issue, please take note.

Bernie Tuch is director of the Diabetes Transplant Unit, director of the NSW Stem Cell Network and professor of medicine at the University of NSW.