One Nation’s motion to seek justice for the victims of the Infected Blood Scandal has been passed
Good news! The Senate has passed One Nation’s motion to hold a Senate Inquiry into Australia’s Infected Blood Scandal.
During the 70s, 80s and 90s, up to 20,000 people were caught up in a scandal that resulted in serious injury and death.
Hundreds of people died.
Others have endured life-long severe illness.
This terrible chapter in Australia’s medical history is attributed to the Australian Red Cross blood banks and the CSL.
Blood contaminated with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV was collected and then knowingly and recklessly given to healthy individuals via blood transfusions and blood products.
Those who received tainted blood, and contracted these diseases as a result, have been seeking compensation for decades.
And been ignored.
Similar situations in Canada and the United Kingdom have led to official investigations and appropriate compensation.
Commonwealth bodies have been avoiding responsibility for too long.
One Nation has been pursuing justice for the victims of Australia’s infected blood scandal for many years, and last week, we have finally unlocked the opportunity to put right this horrific chapter.
Our motion was passed on the voices, with support from the Liberals and Greens.
What will happen next?
This issue has gone to the Community Affairs Committee. They will start the process of opening up submissions. When this closes, public hearings will be organised and individuals will be called to give their testimony.
Great work – thank you!
That makes me all the more pleased that I didn’t give in to the pressure nurses put on me to have an injection for the Rhesus Factor. It was three late 90’s and I’d just had a miscarriage. The pressure from staff to take this injection was extraordinary. I told them my husband and I are both Rh negative and our 7 children are the same. Also, we weren’t planning any more children -this one was a surprise. The coercion became so relentless that I agreed to having the injection, just so I could get home. I felt like I was being held against my will at this point. But then they gave me something to sign. It stated that they can’t guarantee the human blood in the injection will be free of HIV, and wanted me to hold them harmless if I got HIV. I was horrified. That renewed my resolve to not get the injection and they ultimately let me go.