Page 302 - Week 01 - Thursday, 13 February 2020
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National Condom Day serves as a reminder that condoms are still one of the best and easiest ways to stop the spread of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, while also preventing unplanned pregnancy. This is particularly important for people participating in casual sex. Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT, with the support of its community partners, including the AIDS Action Council and LEAD employment services, will mark the occasion by distributing roses and condom packs in Civic, Braddon and Woden tomorrow. Silk roses and condoms have also been distributed at various cafes, health and community organisations, and university and vocational education O-week events.
Madam Deputy Speaker, as you are well aware, this is not the first time I have stood up in this place to talk about sexual health. Last year I moved a motion encouraging the government to work with stakeholder groups and sector leaders like SHFPACT, the AIDS Action Council and Hepatitis ACT to establish a framework for a collaborative community-based sexual health outreach model which aims to further increase the sector’s collective impact, a model that could include an annual sexual health week in the ACT.
It is important that we continue to promote sexual health literacy and awareness and reduce the stigma associated with sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses. National Condom Day is one perfect opportunity to do just that. Sexual health is a vital component of our overall health and wellbeing. Yet it is often the last thing we think about—or perhaps is it forgotten entirely sometimes—when it comes to taking measures to maintain good physical health and prevent disease or infection. We book regular appointments with our dentist to ensure that our teeth and gums are tiptop, yet many sexually active adults have never undergone a simple STI test. This is despite the rates of many sexually transmitted infections—including chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis—continuing to climb. Some of these infections may not have any obvious signs or symptoms.
National Condom Day represents an opportunity once again to discuss safe sex and promote good sexual health practices so that we can reduce the prevalence of STIs and blood-borne viruses in our community. National Condom Day is about promoting healthy sexual relationships, and that also obviously includes consent. SHFPACT lists several key things to remember when it comes to consenting to sex. Firstly, consent must be explicit; a clear “yes” is best. It is okay to change your mind. It is a good idea to check in with your sexual partner, particularly if you sense a shift in their body language. Drink and drugs do affect consent; someone who is very drunk or high cannot give consent.
Whether you love or hate Valentine’s Day I think we can all agree that National Condom Day is a day worth celebrating. I encourage everyone to take a moment on Friday, indeed every day, to consider their sexual health: the importance of it and, of course, the importance of consent. In every way, if it is not on, it is not on. Thank you.
Canberra—Chinese community
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (5.07): I rise this evening to extend my support for Canberra’s Chinese community. This is, of course, a very tough time
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