Survivors of infected blood scandal say inquiry will 'let their voices be heard'

Survivors of 1980s contaminated blood scandal applaud announcement of long-awaited Senate inquiry Lyn Hatch has waited four decades for answers. In 1989 her teenage son Martin died from HIV (AIDS) after being treated with contaminated plasma products. Yesterday's announcement of a Senate inquiry into Australia's contaminated blood disaster has brought hope that thousands like her might finally achieve some justice. "I still think of Martin every day," Lyn tells Australian Story. "I'm relieved and encouraged. It's an opportunity for all HIV and hepatitis C victims, survivors and their families to be heard, and for the government back then to be held to account for its failures in this scandal." Thousands of Australians were infected with hepatitis C or HIV from the 1970s to the 1990s from tainted blood products and routine blood transfusions. Estimates range from 8,000 to up to 20,000 people. Hundreds died, many of them children. While there are effective treatments for HIV and hepatitis C today, many live with serious ongoing medical consequences. The inquiry's announcement follows the efforts of Tristan Stanley, Tony David and Niel Lake, all of whom were infected with hepatitis C and whose stories featured in last week's Australian Story. The inquiry was secured through cooperation between Shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston, One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts and Greens senator Jordon Steele-John. "This inquiry is not the end of the process. It is the beginning. It's a chance to finally put this issue back on the national agenda and start the work of getting survivors real answers," Senator Ruston says. She says the committee is due to report back in mid-2027 and that survivors of the scandal deserve an apology. In 2004 a Senate inquiry into hepatitis C recommended a national apology, which never happened. It also found financial compensation, beyond the limited schemes in place, was "not in the best interests" of those infected. "The 2004 Senate inquiry was a four-day inquiry," says Tristan Stanley from Haemophilia Advocacy Australia. He was infected with hepatitis C as a boy from a blood-clotting product. "You cannot investigate this issue in four days," Mr Stanley says. He is hopeful this Senate inquiry will be different. "For everyone who has lost their lives, everyone who continues to live with the consequences, and every family that has carried this pain for decades, this inquiry represents an opportunity to finally have their voices heard and the answers they deserve brought into the light." Loading..."I'm 100 per cent supportive of Tristan," says nurse Tracey Theobald, one of many who has reached out to Australian Story since the program aired. Tracey's father Ken Howell was infected with hepatitis C in 1982 after receiving a post-operative blood transfusion at St Luke's hospital in Sydney. He died in 2008 from liver failure. Tracey's children, who witnessed their grandfather's suffering, are supporting their mother's involvement in the inquiry, saying, "Do it for Pop." The upcoming inquiry will investigate the scale and circumstances of the contamination, the adequacy of safeguards at the time, the role of commercial considerations in decisions made by government agencies and the toll on partners, children and carers. Australian Story has sought comment. Watch the Australian Story Bad Blood on ABC iview and YouTube. Loading...