On Sunday May 20, the QLD LNP state Government recently announced plans to remove all core funding from the Queensland Association of Healthy Communities (QAHC) and instead administer HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns directly through a Ministerial Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS.
The press release was released on Sunday morning. The key argument for ceasing the funding was the assertion that QAHC initiatives had not been effective in curbing infection rates. In fact, Australia has maintained infection rates, after a very sharp decline during the late ’80s and early ’90s, precisely because of strong partnerships between HIV organisations, governments and the LGBTI community.
Lainie Arnold OF NSW GLRL, said just after the announcement, ‘Health Minister Lawrence Springborg needs to be careful not to conflate new infections with additional reported cases, and also not to penalise QAHC for infections in the non-LGBTI community as a sector for which QAHC does not receive funding’.
Andie Noonan, (Sydney Star Onserver) said, ‘Gay men and men-who-have-sex-with-men make up the majority of new HIV infections in Queensland. The gay community has to have a voice at the table to help drive this rate down. Defunding a trusted community organisation is not the way to go about bending the community’s ear. Springborg’s snap decision shows an arrogant dismissal of the work done by QAHC and Queensland’s LGBTI community has every reason to feel slighted.’
Lawrence Springborg has announced that he wants to establish a new HIV ministerial advisory council to tackle the issue. A rally protesting the decision was organised for May 30.
