At a time where Australia faces chronic blood shortages, ACT Independent Senator David Pocock is standing alongside the community and advocates calling for a modern, evidence-based approach to blood donations that ends discrimination and boosts supply while maintaining safety.
Senator Pocock said experts argue that Australia's current blood donation policy is outdated, discriminatory and not fit-for-purpose. While there was a welcome change to Australia’s blood donation rules in 2023, further updates are needed. There is also concern that the Therapeutic Goods Association’s assessment of applications around how to modernise the regulation of blood donation in Australia and bring it into line with international best practice has dragged on for too long. Senator Pocock is calling for this assessment to be finalised as a priority.
“Time and again Australians step up in response to calls from Australian Red Cross Lifeblood for urgent blood donations, but under current policy settings, part of our community is unfairly and unnecessarily excluded from responding to that call,” Senator Pocock said.
“Exactly one month ago, in the wake of ex-cyclone Alfred an extra 6,000 people were needed to donate, and we know disasters like this will only become more frequent so we need to enable more Australians to help.
“Safety will always come first when donating blood but it is unjustified, discriminatory and hurtful to exclude a HIV-negative gay couple in a monogamous relationship from donating blood.
“The current policy is stigmatising, not based on science and ultimately means we have less people donating, who really want to give back to the community.
“I want to see the Therapeutic Goods Association held to timeframes on assessing these applications regarding blood donations, as they are for all other products.”
Local Canberran Mr Tim Thorpe reflected on the personal impact of these policies.
“For a long time I have wanted to donate blood but haven't been allowed to,” Mr Thorpe said.
“It is important to me to be able to give back to the system that helped my mother during her cancer treatment, when she needed blood transfusions from generous donors.”
Long-time LGBTIQA+ community advocate and spokesperson for the Let Us Give campaign, Rodney Croome AM, pointed to the evidence base for change.
“The medical consensus is that it is safe to lift the current gay blood ban and allow all donors to be assessed for their individual risk regardless of sexuality,” Mr Croome said.
“Based on the science, gay and bisexual men and trans women can now donate in Canada, the UK, the US, New Zealand and many other countries similar to Australia.
“Lifting the current ban is a win/win because it means more safe blood for those in need and a less discriminatory blood service.
“For most Australians it makes no sense that gay men can officially declare solemn vows of lifelong commitment but are banned from blood donation as if we pose some kind of threat to public health.
“It’s taking too long to lift the Australian gay blood ban so we call on all parties to commit to a timeline for bringing in this important reform.”