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Gay health committee arrives

By on March 20, 2013

DavisDavid57250More than 20 Victorians have been selected for the long-awaited queer health committee to address issues affecting the LGBTI community, such as HIV and homophobia.

The state government has chosen 23 members for its Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Ministerial Advisory Committee, also known as the GLBTI MAC.

It’s been more than two years since the Coalition formed government after pledging to introduce a similar committee to what former Labor governments had used.

Suicide prevention, health service improvements and HIV rapid testing are just some of the issues the group will report back on to health minister David Davis (pictured) and mental health minister Mary Wooldridge.

“This is about a partnership approach with communities. It’s a mechanism for people to make their views known, but to also focus on delivering better services,” Davis told Fairfax Media.

Former Victorian AIDS Council executive director Michael Kennedy will chair the committee, joined by Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria director Liam Leonard; Burnet Institute researcher Mark Stoove; Joy FM journalist Doug Pollard and mental health activist Rob Mitchell.

Victoria’s Health Department received almost 100 applications for the committee and a spokesman for the health minister has previously said he was taking an “active role” in the process.

The former Brumby government had two similar committees for health and justice.

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