Senator HARRADINE (2:36 PM) —My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. I refer to the government inquiry into the deliberate use of potentially contaminated blood to make medical products which may have infected up to 20,000 Australians with hepatitis C virus. Minister, can the victims of contaminated blood be assured that the terms of reference for this inquiry are broad enough to include many vital questions to the government, to CSL and to Red Cross around the use of blood plasma from donors suspected of having hepatitis C? Will such an inquiry cover such questions as: how many people have in fact been infected with hepatitis C as a result of receiving blood transfusions and blood products in Australia? Why, after the state of Queensland implemented surrogate testing for hepatitis C in 1988, did the other states not follow suit? When blood donors found to be hepatitis C positive were asked to keep donating blood plasma in 1990, were there any checks conducted to determine whether they had donated blood in the past? (Time expired)

Senator PATTERSON (Minister for Health and Ageing) —As Senator Harradine will be aware, I was not minister for health in 1990 but I take very seriously the issues that have been raised. I asked Professor Barraclough, who is the chairman of the quality and safety council, to look into the claims that plasma testing positive to the hepatitis C antibody was used in the manufacture of plasma products in 1990. The criticisms of Professor Barraclough's work published by the Sydney Morning Herald are both unwarranted and unfair and these are important questions about the events that occurred 12 years ago.

I know Senator Harradine has a particular interest and it is essential for Professor Barraclough to be given sufficient time to examine these issues properly. The facts need to be established, including the question of what was the climate of scientific opinion at the time. When the claims were first raised, I immediately asked my department to look into the facts and provide me with some advice, and it did so. It was only last month, on 6 August, that I appointed Professor Barraclough as Chairman of the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care to provide me with an expert opinion on these matters. He has an impeccable reputation. I have every confidence that he will look at this issue in a fair and reasonable way. For some groups to claim that they have not heard from him is quite unfair.

The PRESIDENT —Order! Senator Patterson, your colleagues on your left are chattering and I am afraid I cannot hear your answer. Senator Vanstone!

Senator PATTERSON —He has called for more information and research before he starts consulting with key players and I believe this is a fair and reasonable approach. There are various groups that Professor Barraclough intends to speak to. It is also essential that he speak to agencies like the Red Cross Blood Service, CSL Ltd and other key players. As I said, I also think it is important for the community to understand that the claims relate to a period in 1990 and not to today. I would reiterate that we have one of the safest blood supplies in the world. I know Senator Harradine has a particular interest in this area and I am happy to discuss with him in more detail the terms of reference. Professor Barraclough did ask if he could delay commencing the inquiry, I believe, for a short time, because of his commitments. It is an issue that happened 12 years ago. I acceded to that and also to including some other people with expertise in the area to assist him in his inquiry.

Senator Harradine —Mr President, this is not really a supplementary question but I would like to say, with your indulgence, that I was not reflecting on the minister or on Professor Barraclough at all. I was asking a question on behalf of those people who, through the use of contaminated blood at that time, are still suffering quite seriously.

The PRESIDENT —I do not think it was a question but, Senator Patterson, do you wish to answer?

Senator PATTERSON (Minister for Health and Ageing) —Yes, I would like to reply to Senator Harradine's statement. I did not indicate that Senator Harradine was reflecting but there have been some reports in the paper that have reflected on it. I just wanted to say that I have every confidence that Professor Barraclough will investigate it as fully as possible, given the scientific knowledge at the time.