Page 4849 - Week 16 - Thursday, 29 November 1990
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MR SPEAKER: I would like you to withdraw the imputation, Mr Berry!
MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, this is truly a serious matter for the people of the ACT and for all members of this Assembly - Government and Opposition - and those who see themselves as sitting on the crossbenches. We all need to put our shoulders to the wheel, as they say, and work hard to ensure that the message is loud and clear, that it is palatable and that it is effective, because it is those sorts of messages which will lead to a reduction in those people who suffer with the disease and, of course, will assist those people who have to live with it.
I would like to put on record some congratulations to the Hawke Labor Government for its efforts in the focus on AIDS in this country, because it has truly responded to the need. The sort of funding which has been provided to the States and Territories, and which this Territory enjoys, is a most welcome addition to the armoury of weapons that can be used by this Government against the further spread of AIDS. So, I repeat that I think this Assembly needs to congratulate the Hawke Government for its work in the area of the campaign against AIDS in Australia.
MR MOORE (4.05): I noted that in his speech Mr Berry congratulated the Hawke Labor Government for its response on this particular matter. I think he could have been more specific. I believe that congratulations are due particularly to the Minister at the time, Dr Neal Blewett, because Australia's record in containing this virus is significantly better than that of almost any other Western country in the world.
Whilst I think it is important for us to recognise that, it is also very important for us not to rest on our laurels as far as that goes. There is a movement within Australians; they are now saying, "Look, the whole thing was over-sensationalised and the whole reaction was unnecessary". On the contrary, the very positive reaction in Australia has helped us to achieve this, and the bipartisan approach demonstrated by my colleague Mr Humphries and by other people has made that possible. I think that that approach ought to continue.
As chair of the committee dealing with this issue, along with illegal drugs and prostitution, it has made me feel very pleased that there has been a totally open-minded and bipartisan approach on all the issues that we deal with. The particular groups that are significant, as far as this particular situation goes, are, of course, the marginalised groups. In dealing with AIDS originally we were dealing with the gay community, and now we are looking at the illicit drug users. But there are other groups that are going to come to our attention, and the next group of marginalised people that I imagine will come to our attention will be bisexual men. It is interesting that
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