Australian politicians divided on stem cell research

The battle lines are being drawn over stem cell research in Australia after the Prime Minister promised to allow a conscience vote on the issue if legislation goes before Parliament.

Government MP's and Senators who want stem cell research extended are hoping their party room debate will quickly lead to a conscience vote.

Liberal backbencher Cameron Thompson is a supporter of change.

"If it's possible for us to be able to give them a quality of life we should be out there giving it to them," he said.

However, Liberal Senator Guy Barnett says nothing has changed since the last debate four years ago.

"You are actually destroying a life in order to save a life," he said.

The Queensland Premier Peter Beattie vowed his state would go it alone on the issue, but he's hoping the reignited debate will lead to a national approach.

Some within the coalition have warned against a conscience vote, saying it would be divisive.

Stem cells are nascent cells that can be coaxed by chemical signals in the body into becoming different kinds of tissue to form almost any part of a human.

Scientists hope to one day to use stem cells to grow replacement tissue in a lab dish, such as brain cells, skin, liver, a kidney, that could be used for human transplants.

However religious groups and other critics say research on human embryos and stem cells is unethical.

- RADIO AUSTRALIA