BANGKOK: Gammy, the baby at the centre of Thailand's surrogacy scandal, has been granted Australian citizenship.
The 12-month-old baby with Down syndrome will now be eligible for Australian services such as healthcare. He will also be eligible to apply for an Australian passport.
Gammy, who was born with a heart condition, was abandoned by his Australian biological parents, David and Wendy Farnell, last year, prompting Thai authorities to shut down the country's then booming surrogacy industry.
The baby's surrogate mother, Pattaramon Chanbua, said she applied for Australian citizenship because she wanted to safeguard Gammy's future, not because she wanted to travel to Australia.
But there are not expected to be any restrictions on Ms Pattaramon travelling to Australia with Gammy.
Mr and Mrs Farnell have been allowed by West Australian authorities to keep Gammy's twin sister, Pipah, with strict conditions, despite Mr Farnell's previous convictions for child sex offences.
Gammy was automatically eligible to become an Australian citizen because Mr Farnell's sperm was used, making him the biological parent.
Ms Pattaramon bitterly criticised the Farnells after they left Thailand with Pipah, saying she was still owed money by the Bunbury couple.
Gammy was critically unwell at the time.
When Fairfax Media revealed Gammy's plight, people around the world rushed to donate more than $240,000.
The money is managed by Australian charity Hands Across the Water, which recently provided a new house for Ms Pattaramon's family in Chonburi, 90 kilometres south of Bangkok.
Gammy turned one on December 23.
He has been regularly visiting a Thai hospital, with his bills paid by donated money through Hands Across the Water.
Legislation has been drafted by Thailand's military junta that will ban surrogacy except involving family members, with penalties of up to 10 years' jail for violators of the law.
The 12-month-old baby with Down syndrome will now be eligible for Australian services such as healthcare. He will also be eligible to apply for an Australian passport.
Gammy, who was born with a heart condition, was abandoned by his Australian biological parents, David and Wendy Farnell, last year, prompting Thai authorities to shut down the country's then booming surrogacy industry.
The baby's surrogate mother, Pattaramon Chanbua, said she applied for Australian citizenship because she wanted to safeguard Gammy's future, not because she wanted to travel to Australia.
But there are not expected to be any restrictions on Ms Pattaramon travelling to Australia with Gammy.
Mr and Mrs Farnell have been allowed by West Australian authorities to keep Gammy's twin sister, Pipah, with strict conditions, despite Mr Farnell's previous convictions for child sex offences.
Gammy was automatically eligible to become an Australian citizen because Mr Farnell's sperm was used, making him the biological parent.
Ms Pattaramon bitterly criticised the Farnells after they left Thailand with Pipah, saying she was still owed money by the Bunbury couple.
Gammy was critically unwell at the time.
When Fairfax Media revealed Gammy's plight, people around the world rushed to donate more than $240,000.
The money is managed by Australian charity Hands Across the Water, which recently provided a new house for Ms Pattaramon's family in Chonburi, 90 kilometres south of Bangkok.
Gammy turned one on December 23.
He has been regularly visiting a Thai hospital, with his bills paid by donated money through Hands Across the Water.
Legislation has been drafted by Thailand's military junta that will ban surrogacy except involving family members, with penalties of up to 10 years' jail for violators of the law.
Good to read, the child has a Australian father and should have the same rights to care as any other Aussie when in Australia and be allowed to travel to Australia when necessary
Posted by peter allen on January 21, 2015 11:41