Former Australian High Court judge Michael Kirby has called on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to renew his commitment to the AIDS response, while delivering a speech at an international conference dedicated to HIV and AIDS.
Mr Kirby used his address at the opening night of the 20th International AIDS Conference to urge the “unabashed conservative” Prime Minister to help AIDS researchers and advocates “reach out to those political leaders, at the coming G20 Summit … and in the meetings of the Commonwealth of Nations, to break the deadly logjam of inaction or wrong actions”.
Mr Kirby’s address comes days after six delegates were killed while en route to the high-profile five-day conference in Melbourne.
Addressing researchers, policy makers and community leaders in attendance, Mr Kirby paid tribute to those whose journey was cut short when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine.
“Be in no doubt that irrational cruelty is, and will remain, our companion on this [AIDS] journey,” she said.
“It requires us to remember the past president of the International AIDS Society, Joep Lange, and his wife, to think of all the other delegates who expected to be sitting here with us in this hall at this occasion.
“They devoted themselves to scientific research, to patient care, to law reform and human rights.”
Mr Kirby said those who died on board MH17 would “expect us to pick up our shattered spirits”.
“They would demand we renew and redouble our efforts,” he said.
“They would see those efforts as small but vital pieces of the great human puzzle that seeks to build a world that respects human rights, and heralds the day when the suffering of AIDS will be over.”
‘Conservatives … can be vital allies in the struggle against AIDS’
Addressing Australia’s current AIDS response, Mr Kirby said Mr Abbott and his Government have opened a dialogue that “surely has lessons for other countries”.
He praised the Prime Minister’s long-term response to AIDS in Australia, citing his efforts as health minister in 2003 to 2007 where, Mr Kirby said, “Mr Abbott steadfastly maintained adherence to the established consensus policies of AIDS”.
“When some parliamentary colleagues proposed an end to the highly successful needle exchange scheme that has virtually eliminated HIV amongst injecting drug users, he sided with the angels and refused to change.”
Mr Kirby also described Mr Abbott as the “first prime minister of Australia ever to acknowledge that the current ‘war on drugs’ strategy can never be won’.”
He says he will name and shame those countries that are not pulling their weight in the fight against AIDS, adding the Prime Minister is in a position to influence policy and attitude changes.
“Taxpayers in many countries will not keep forking out for countries that are willing to take the contributions for anti-retroviral drugs but are not willing to protect their own citizens,” Mr Kirby said.
“Many of those who have left the taps of infection still open are more likely to listen to him [Mr Abbott] than to others that talk a language that they abhor.
“Conservatives, you see, can be vital allies in the struggle against AIDS.”
Praise for Australia’s AIDS response
During his speech, Mr Kirby reflected on the history of Australia’s AIDS response, paying tribute to previous governments of both major political persuasions.
“No side in politics has a monopoly on wisdom or compassion on AIDS … many have contributions to make,” he said.
“In the early frantic days … Dr Neal Blewett, Labor federal health minister and his Coalition counterpart, Dr Peter Baume, came together to embrace the AIDS paradox.
“They reached out in protection of gay men, sex workers, injecting drug users and others.
“In Australia, throughout the Hawke, Keating, Howard, Rudd, Gillard and Abbott governments, we have retained this steady course.”
He says the strategy, with its “occasional imperfections and failings”, is something Australia “can be proud of”.