In Brief
NSW HIV RATES DOWN
The number of new HIV infections in NSW during 2006 has decreased to 371 new notifications from 393 in 2005 according new figures confirmed by the Department of Health. Significantly there was also a nine percent decrease in the rate of new HIV notifications for gay men. The decline ends a 10-year period of stable rates for NSW while some other Australian states have seen rate increases. It is understood the decline was less significant than originally anticipated.
PM SAYS HIV VISITORS A RISK
Following on from John Howard’s comments in April suggesting a ban on immigration for HIV-positive people, The Age has reported that he has written to his immigration and health ministers for advice on the public health implications of letting HIV-positive people into the country as visitors. The original comments and the latest move were criticised by community activists and health experts, with AFAO’s Don Baxter saying infection from short-term visa holders has had a minuscule impact.
HOMOPHOBIC BULLYING
In a tour of schools last weekend John Howard promised to introduce a national strategy to tackle schoolyard bullying, ABC News reported. But community activists have warned the strategy will fail unless it also addresses homophobia. Activist Rodney Croome has claimed homophobia is a major cause of bullying and is linked to suicide and drug and alcohol abuse, resulting in children under-achieving or prematurely dropping out. The major party responses to bullying are doomed to fail if they do not include strong anti-homophobia policies and funding for targeted anti-homophobia programs, Croome said.
KYLIE TO STAR IN DOCTOR WHO
Pop princess Kylie Minogue is set to become a cyberwoman, according to UK tabloid News Of The World. The singer is set to begin filming scenes in July on a Christmas special for BBC TV’s hit sci-fi series Doctor Who. Gay icon Minogue joins a show that is decidedly queer in outlook. One of its lead actors is the out gay actor, John Barrowman, who plays a bisexual character, while the executive producer, Russell T. Davies was also behind the original UK TV series of Queer As Folk. Meanwhile, David Tennant, who plays the doctor, was voted sexiest man in the universe by readers of the UK’s Pink Paper.
MIDSUMMA SADNESS WON’T AFFECT MARDI GRAS
Fears that Fair Day would suffer the same fate as Melbourne’s Midsumma festival and have to find a new location were calmed this week as City of Sydney Council confirmed Victoria Park was in a great shape. Midsumma may need to find a new home after Treasury Gardens, where the event was held, was found to need $7500 to repair the grass following the festival. Council has given Mardi Gras a further boost by raising its status to that of Major Festival. This brings direct and in-kind Council funding for Mardi Gras up to $320,000.