With the five year freeze on the gender selection technology in Australia completing this year, Health Minister Nicola Roxon said that the Federal Government must continue the ban in the next term.

Sex determination has been prohibited since the past five years in Australia, which can be altered in extreme situations like the baby being at a risk of acquiring a genetic disorder.

''At a personal level, I am very uncomfortable about the suggestions that such a change might be made”, she said.

Professor Gab Kovacs, the International Medical Director of Monash IVF is of the view that the technique should be allowed for those parents who agree to pay an amount of $15,000 for it.

Criticizing the ban he said a majority of the couples seek the technology outside the country.

However, Dr. Sandra Hacker, chair of the council's Australian Health Ethics Committee, said that it is very important for the authorities to take into consideration, all the facets of the issue, before declaring anything.

She said the records taken from the public consensus suggest that a majority of them are opposed to the practice.