Aust, forms new A.I.D.S. liaison group

Press, 5 December 1985, Page 72

Aust, forms new A.I.D.S. liaison group

NZPA-AAP Canberra The number of deaths from A.I.D.S. had almost doubled in the Last six months, said the Australian Minister of Health, Dr Neal Blewett. The disease remained one of the most serious health problems facing Australia, he told Parliament. He announced the establishment of a Parliamentaiy Liaison Group on A.I.D.S. with members from the three main political parties, to liaise with the National Advisory Committee on A.LD.S. and with the A.I.D.S. Task Force. He said there had been no big developments in the medical and scientific assessment of A.I.D.S. since his previous parliamentary statement in May. “There is as yet no effective treatment for those infected by the virus and no expectation that a suitable vaccine will become available in the near future,” Dr Blewett said. Since May, when there had been 79 cases of A.I.D.S. in Australia and 32 deaths from the disease, the figures had almost doubled to 138 and 60 deaths. In developing national AIDA strategies, there vras a need to formalise communication channels betwee Federal Parliament,

medical and scientific groups and community groups, Dr Blewett said. The new 13-member Parliamentary Liaison Group on A.I.D.S. would have access to reports of proceedings of both the national advisory committee and the A.I.D.S. Task Force. In turn, the group would provide information on community opinion. “Co-operation and co-ordi-nation on a non-partisan basis between all Members of the House and the Parliament is essential to the success of the group,” he said. The Opposition spokesman on health, Mr James

Porter, welcomed the establishment of the committee, saying that it gave an opportunity for bipartisan involvement in A.I.D.S. control. “I am concerned that the flow of information has been inadequate to date, and the result has been tensions, bordering in some cases on panic,” Mr Porter said. Dr Blewett was optimistic about steps to ensure the integrity of blood supplies. “We can be confident that our blood transfusion services are now as secure as they can possibly be,” he said.