Premium Content:

Are WA's mandatory disease testing laws being overused?

 A new report has highlighted the use of mandatory testing for HIV by Western Australian Police. 

- Advertisement -

In 2015 the laws were changed allowing police to order a mandatory blood test for people who were accused of spitting at police or passing on other bodily fluids. At the time of the laws introduction experts highlighted that it is scientifically impossible for HIV to be passed on via saliva. 

Information obtained under Freedom of Information requests has revealed that WA Police use the laws around 100 times a year. Since the laws were introduced 387 applications have been made and 377 of those applications have been approved.

Health experts argue that the laws are unnecessary and lead to misinformation around how HIV is transmitted and increases stigma for those living with the virus. 

The National Association of People With HIV Australia has published the report which is titled The System is Broken; Audit of Australia’s Mandatory Testing Laws. 

Graeme Watson sat down with Sally Cameron, the author of the report, and was also joined by Edwin Bernard, global head of the HIV Justice Network and network member Paul Kidd.

Graeme Watson, this report is simultaneously published at community radio station RTRFM. 


Latest

Furor in the Dominican Republic over lesbian poem based on national anthem

A controversy has broken out in the Dominican Republic...

Convicted rapist Gareth Ward resigns from parliament minutes before motion to boot him out

New South Wales MP Gareth Ward has resigned from...

Bibliophile | Patrick Lenton offers modern queer romcom with ‘In Spite of You’

Revenge is a powerful motivator, but when Jeremy’s journey to self-improvement runs out of spite, where does he go next?

Story suggesting M&S trans employee harassed teen girl goes viral… but is it true?

There's the known facts, and then there's a lot of embellishment.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Furor in the Dominican Republic over lesbian poem based on national anthem

A controversy has broken out in the Dominican Republic...

Convicted rapist Gareth Ward resigns from parliament minutes before motion to boot him out

New South Wales MP Gareth Ward has resigned from...

Bibliophile | Patrick Lenton offers modern queer romcom with ‘In Spite of You’

Revenge is a powerful motivator, but when Jeremy’s journey to self-improvement runs out of spite, where does he go next?

Story suggesting M&S trans employee harassed teen girl goes viral… but is it true?

There's the known facts, and then there's a lot of embellishment.

On This Gay Day | In 1984 Greg Louganis won gold at the LA Olympics

He's been called the greatest diver of all time.

Furor in the Dominican Republic over lesbian poem based on national anthem

A controversy has broken out in the Dominican Republic over a poem written by a lesbian woman. The poem takes inspiration from the country's...

Convicted rapist Gareth Ward resigns from parliament minutes before motion to boot him out

New South Wales MP Gareth Ward has resigned from parliament just moments before moves to have expelled were set to take place. The member for...

Bibliophile | Patrick Lenton offers modern queer romcom with ‘In Spite of You’

Revenge is a powerful motivator, but when Jeremy’s journey to self-improvement runs out of spite, where does he go next?