Our QPP Patron

2023 Statement from QPP Patron – The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG

Once again, I am pleased to offer a few words in support of QPP and the HOPE Fund in respect of the work in the fields of HIV, scientific, social and community activities during the years 2022 and 2023 to date.

QPP continued to deliver services and activities as in the past.  In collaboration with QPP, Queensland was host to two HIV conferences.  These were the Australasian HIV and Sexual Conference on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, in September 2022 and the International HIV Science Conference in Brisbane in July 2023.  Whilst these activities, especially the second, consumed enormous amounts of time and energy, they were important opportunities to describe the contemporaneous response in Australia and the measure of success and difficulties that inevitably arise.

The annual report of QPP set out the progress made in Queensland in respect of HIV, human rights and the law during the reporting period.  QPP has been advocating decriminalisation of HIV to reflect the opinions and recommendations of national and international bodies, specifically of the UNDP Global Commission on HIV and the Law and the UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and Human Rights.  The efforts resulted in a Queensland roundtable in May 2023, including many relevant community organisations.  I praise and support the work of QPP in all that it has been doing in this regard to bring Queensland law and policy into line with the international gold standard. 

In fact, Australia has been a leader in providing the measures necessary to comply with universal human rights and to ensure the greatest possible effectiveness of the Queensland HIV response and legislative landscape.  In addition to changes in statutory law, alteration in police practice, and the response of the public sector have been important. 

Paradoxically, and contrary to the intuitive response of some observers, the best way in which to tackle the transmission of HIV is to reach out to, and support those who are living with HIV.  This has proved, in Australia, the best strategy for improving health outcomes alongside with efforts to ensure all persons who are diagnosed with HIV are placed as quickly as possible in a position of access to antiretroviral medication and other treatment.  Such treatment prevents transmission of HIV, by allowing an undetectable viral load to be maintained.

There are many other achievements that are included in this report.  I congratulate QPP and the HOPE Fund for their ongoing activities to support those who are living with HIV and the communities in which they live, who also deserve and need the most effective protection.

The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG^*

Patron – Queensland Positive People

^*Former Justice of the High Court of Australia.  Inaugural member of the WHO Global Commission on AIDS (1989-92); Commissioner of the UNDP Global Commission on HIV and the Law (2011-12); Member of the UNAIDS Expert Group on HIV and Human Rights (1996-2020).