29th May 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Australian Federal Court case for infected blood scandal.
Infected Blood Australia, a campaign group representing the Australian victims of the global infected blood scandal are taking legal action over the Australian Human Rights Commission’s (AHRC) decision to deny a national inquiry into how tens of thousands of Australian families have been adversly impacted by HIV and Hepatitis C tainted blood transfusions and blood treatments.
“Every other major nation impacted by the infected blood scandal including Japan, Canada, Ireland and the UK which just had a multi billion pound compensation scheme awarded, has addressed this injustice.
“Australia stands alone in refusing to do so”, the group said.
Lyn Hatch, who campaigned alongside the late author Bryce Courtenay for impacted families is a spokeswoman for Infected Blood Australia and says the AHRC’s decision felt like “deja vu” for those who have spent decades fighting for answers.
“It’s just like forty years ago, where once again affected families are being squeezed by bureaucracy, there is still no accountability, and governments continue to use public money to obstruct the sort of answers and justice the public expects.”
“A prime example was our son Martin, a ten year old haemophiliac who contracted HIV from the blood supply and via a blood treatment called Factor 8 that he didn’t even need to survive, he ended up with AIDS and was forced to fight the government in court for help back in 1989. The defendants were funded by taxpayers to the tune of $10 million, while we received no legal aid. Tragically the case found against helping Martin and was announced on the day of his funeral”
“The Labor government and the AHRC appear determined to sweep the biggest medical scandal in Australian history under the carpet once again.”
“However, given the scale of harm caused to Australians, together with our lawyers and senior counsel we have now filed an appeal in the Federal Court of Australia.”
Lyn Hatch and tainted blood campaigner Charles MacKenzie are available for media interviews.
Contact Charles via email cjm@infectedbloodaustralia.com
https://www.infectedbloodaustralia.com
