Australian DNA Database

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Thought this'd be of interest.

Daniel Ust

From: "Grant Sparks" <grant@sparks.to>
Subject: Australian DNA Database
Date: Thu, 16 Jul 1998 21:33:23 +1000

Sorry that this is a bit off topic (It *does* have the word DNA in it, plus it's really libertarian in nature of which I know there are many on this list)

A major national current affairs program run on our government owned national broadcaster (ABC), The 7:30 Report (16 July 98) tonight contained the most alarming news I've heard in a long time.

You know those blood test things they do with the baby's feet at birth here in Australia ? (and probably everywhere else in the Western world)

We've just found out that the government have kept them all. They now have 5 million. (We have a population of only 18 - 20 million)

• They are providing them to law enforcement officials on request. (That didn't take long !)
• At the time they did the test on my kids, I asked if they were kept and told NO. There isn't a hope in hell I'd agree otherwise, and it looked so suspicious at the time that I asked on at least two occasions about this.
• They are being used in genetic experimentation, testing and for detailed genetic analysis. These are NOT anonymous samples. They contain our kids identity information. I think the audience on the extropian list would realise the implications of someone somewhere having a database record containing information about your genome attached to your name. Insurance companies would love this information - they'd know how to set your premium, especially if the analysis had already been done for them and was included in the file.
• Seen/read Gattica, 1984, Brave New World etc ? If you're wondering what sort of infrastructure is required before that future can arrive, I'll let you know the very first one - genetic imprints of all citizens at birth.

I've started a mailing list that I'll use to promote awareness about this. Send an email to genethics-request@list.to with the word SUBSCRIBE in the message body. This internet discussion group will aim to provide a forum where concerned parents can work towards getting our kids DNA back.

This message is being circulated widely on the internet. There is going to be some real people power on a genetic issue for the first time in Australian politics.

Grant Sparks
grant@sparks.to
Brisbane (+61 7) 3348 8287

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