Tony Abbott “sided with the angels” on needle exchange schemes, says Justice Michael Kirby. Photo: Justin McManus
Former Australian High Court Judge Michael Kirby has called on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to use his conservatism to help break a “deadly logjam of inaction” on HIV and AIDS around the world.
In his opening address to the 20th International AIDS conference in Melbourne, Justice Kirby said Mr Abbott, as “a conviction politician and unabashed conservative”, could reach out to political leaders at the coming G20 Summit in Brisbane and in the meetings of the Commonwealth of Nations to “break the deadly logjam of inaction or wrong actions” in HIV policy.
“Many of those who have left the taps of infection still open are more likely to listen to him than to others that talk a language that they abhor,” Justice Kirby said on Sunday night.
“Conservatives, you see, can be vital allies in the struggle against AIDS. We should never forget that it was President George W. Bush in the United States who established the PEPFAR Fund and promoted the Global Fund that has helped save millions of vulnerable lives.”