NAPNT Media Alerts: Throw Wooldridge overboard or resign

The Darwin based drug law reform group, the Network Against Prohibition, has called on the Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott to sack Michael Wooldridge from the Ministerial Advisory Council on AIDS Sexual Health and Hepatitis.

The call for Abbott’s resignation follows revelations that former federal health minister Michael Wooldridge will profit from the introduction of retractable needles and syringes in Australia.

Wooldridge has used his former positions as federal health minister and global UNAIDS chairman for his own financial gain. He has aggressively pursued the retractable syringe concept.

Documents obtained by the Network Against Prohibition provide evidence that Wooldridge is on the payroll of Ritract, a company trying to break into the global syringe market.

NAP spokesperson Gary Meyerhoff said “The decision by Tony Abbott to appoint Michael Wooldridge as the chairperson of the MACASHH is a clear indication that Abbott is using his authority as health minister to line the pockets of his mates.”

“It is bad enough that just before resigning, Wooldridge used his position as health minister to guarantee a $30 million trial of retractable syringes. The fact that he is now the chairperson of MACASHH with access to privileged information that will benefit Ritract is clearly an indication of the corruption that is so entrenched within our federal government.”

“Conveniently for Wooldridge, Ritract is the second company to receive approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration to distribute their retractable syringes locally.”

“We will make approaches to the Australian Federal Police to ensure that Wooldridge is prosecuted for official corruption.”

The Network Against Prohibition is preparing a number of complaints regarding the trial of retractable needles and syringes citing evidence that companies are misleading the government, investors and the wider community.

The companies claim to have the magic bullet to prevent unsafe injecting practices in healthcare settings in the developing world and among people who inject illicit drugs, claims refuted by the Network Against Prohibition in a booklet released yesterday – “Syringegate”.

NAP spokesperson Gary Meyerhoff said “Three million people died as a result of HIV last year. Wooldridge, a former Australian health minister and chairman of UNAIDS has proven be heartless enough to cash in on the HIV pandemic.”

NAP called for Abbott’s resignation while announcing the 3rd Darwin International Syringe Festival, to be held in early September. During the Festival activists will formally launch The ARSE Foundation (Anti-Retractable Syringe Education) to educate people about the real motives behind the retractable syringe – profit.

For more information please read Syringegate, available from:

http://www.napnt.org/arse/syringegate.html

or contact Gary Meyerhoff on 0415 16 2525

Suggested links:

The ARSE Foundation:

http://www.napnt.org/arse.html

NAP:

http://www.napnt.org

Federal Government retractable syringe trial:

http://www.health.gov.au/pubhlth/strateg/needle/

Wooldridge wanted:

http://www.napnt.org/images/wooldridge_wanted.jpg