The official function included speeches from health minister Tony Abbott and representatives from the government’s HIV/AIDS advisory committee, but despite the presence of numerous positive representatives at the event, none was invited to speak. Ironically, the theme of the event — HIV and AIDS affect women too — was meant to increase visibility and awareness of positive women.
In a speech which sought to reaffirm the government’s commitment to “provide the best possible medical resources to people with AIDS,” the health minister said that people living with HIV/AIDS “are our brothers and sisters who deserve to be treated with respect and compassion.”
“AIDS is a health issue, it’s not a moral issue,” he said. “We’re certainly entitled to make judgments about behaviour, but we shouldn’t be judgmental about people.”
“AIDS awareness week should not be an occasion for moralising,” he said. “There should be no moralising about personal choices, and, also, no moralising about an allegedly discriminatory society, because, in Australia’s case, it just wouldn’t be true.”
A spokesperson for the National Association of People Living With AIDS (NAPWA) says the organisation is disappointed by the failure to incorporate the views of positive people in the event, and is in discussions with organisers at the federal health department to ensure a more inclusive approach is taken in future.
Elsewhere, a World AIDS Day benefit concert in Melbourne’s Federation Square on Sunday November 29 was a success with a crowd of around 5000 attending during the day, according to the Burnet Centre for Medical Research, which organised the event.
With performers including Daniel Merriweather, Courtney Act and Cousin Leonard giving their time for free, it was a very effective awareness-raiser for the HIV message locally and globally.
Guest speakers from HIV organisations included Kevin Guiney, President of the Victorian AIDS Council, Susan Paxton from the Asia-Pacific Network of Positive People (APN+) and David Menadue from PLWHA Victoria. The Burnet Institute has announced a repeat concert for World AIDS Day 2005.
