ABC Compass episode My Body, Your Baby, was screened on ABC on 22 March 2026 and is available on iView.

An article published the same day highlighted some of the interviews.

The show explored surrogacy in Australia, and the current review of Australia’s surrogacy laws being conducted by the Australian Law Reform Commission.

ABC interviewed me, Sarah Jefford – a surrogacy lawyer who has delivered a baby as a surrogate. They also interviewed Izzy, who was born via surrogacy and a surrogate, Fiona, who had a complex experience of surrogacy, carrying a baby for her sister. And an anti-adoption campaigner was interviewed, as a contra to those of us with lived experience and expertise with surrogacy.

I think the final piece highlights the complexity of surrogacy, with some nuanced discussion about the need to compensate surrogates in Australia.

The fact is that 75% of Australian children born via surrogacy are born overseas, including Lewis and Edward’s two children who were born in Colombia. It is easier to pursue surrogacy overseas than it is to find a surrogate in Australia, with 80% of arrangements between friends and family, and the remaining 20% finding each other through social media (including my own arrangement!).

Questions are raised about exploitation of women and children, and human trafficking. These are valid concerns, but the mistake is made in assuming that compensation is the root cause of exploitation. Unregulated industry – including in Australia and overseas – is what makes surrogacy exploitative. The surrogate being paid is not, of itself, exploitative.

What makes surrogacy ethical and protects against exploitation? It’s safeguards, pure and simple. We already have safeguards in place for Australian surrogacy, including protecting the surrogate’s right to autonomy, mandating counselling and legal advice. These can all continue with a compensation framework.

The anti-surrogacy campaigner and self-appointed spokesperson for Abolish Surrogacy Australia claims that bonds are broken between mother and baby, when we relinquish a child. I don’t speak for the experience of people born through forced adoption, but neither should they speak for me or people born through surrogacy. Surrogacy is a deeply intentional and considered decision made by autonomous women.

My experience of motherhood, and scientific research establishes that non-birthing parents can bond with a baby they have not carried, and carrying a baby is not synonymous with bonding or parenting. These ‘broken bonds’ that anti-surrogacy campaigners speak of are not anchored in science nor are they based on research of surrogates or people born via surrogacy.

Denying our autonomy, or calling for abolition, does not protect the rights of women.

If you’re interested in reading more, you can find my thoughts on feminism and surrogacy, the need to regulate the industry.

You can watch the full episode on YouTube below.