Last month, the Australian Federal Parliament announced a new Senate Inquiry into Australian blood and blood products infected with bloodborne viruses (hepatitis B, hepatitis C/HCV and HIV) during the 1970s–1990s.
We know this development may bring up strong emotions for many of our community members. Part of this may be the uncertainty – hoping for better outcomes at last, but aware that none of us can know what the outcomes of this Inquiry will be. Our community has proven its resilience over the years and this may be the time that some community members wish to make the Senate Committee and the wider community aware of their experiences.
You may also have questions about how the inquiry process works and what it might mean for you. In this news item, we’ll provide key information on the inquiry, explain HFA’s advocacy priorities, and share details on how to get involved if you wish to participate.
To keep up-to-date with developments on the Inquiry, sign up to HFA e-news.
For over 30 years, HFA has stood alongside our community in advocating for recognition, care, and justice regarding infected blood products. We remain firmly committed to supporting you through every step of this Senate Inquiry process.
What is a Senate Inquiry?
A Senate Inquiry is a formal parliamentary investigation conducted by a committee of Australian Senators to examine an issue of national significance.
To investigate the issue thoroughly, the Senate Committee gathers evidence by inviting written submissions from individuals, groups, and organisations, and by holding public hearings to listen to testimony.
From this evidence, the Committee develops a final report detailing its findings and presenting formal recommendations to the Australian Government. The Government must respond to the Committee, but is not required to accept its recommendations (our advocacy work continues!)
What is this Senate Inquiry investigating?
As many of you would know, the Senate investigated hepatitis C and the blood supply in 2004 and passed down a number of recommendations. For many in our community, that Inquiry fell well short in terms of both the nature of its inquiry and recommendations.
This Inquiry is designed to investigate:
- some of the circumstances relating to blood products infected with bloodborne viruses
- the impact on people infected and their partners and families
- and what the government has done since to rectify the situation for hepatitis C.
The Inquiry’s questions they are investigating are called the Terms of Reference. You can read the full Inquiry Terms of Reference and instructions for making a submission on the Senate Inquiry website.
Submissions close on Friday 27 November 2026.
How can I participate?
You can make a submission to the inquiry
- as an individual
- as part of a group
- and/or through an organisation.
You can make a submission directly to the Senators in the Committee so they can consider it in their investigation. This could be:
- Sharing your personal experience or story
- And/or responding the Terms of Reference with evidence (which you will need to supply).
You can make more than one submission. You may choose to add your story to an organisation’s or group’s submission while also sharing your personal story separately with the Senate in more detail.
HFA has also been liaising with the Committee who have confirmed that they will also create an opportunity for people to share their story directly with the Committee in person with hearings across Australia.
It’s very important that our community has the opportunity to share their experience of the devastating and traumatic consequences of this time in our history.
We will be developing a new section on our website and will share more detail and resources in the coming weeks to support you to participate.
How is HFA participating?
HFA is preparing a submission to the Inquiry on behalf of the Australian bleeding disorders community. This will be evidence-based, drawing on our extensive data and the powerful stories of affected people in our community.
We are also continuing our active lobbying efforts with key policy and decision-makers to achieve meaningful outcomes for affected individuals and their families. Our key advocacy priorities, which was informed by a survey of our community, include seeking acknowledgement of and a financial scheme to recognise the impact on people who were affected.
Recommendations made by a Senate Inquiry are not automatically binding on the government, so it’s important we remain committed to lobbying ministers and parliamentarians to ensure the inquiry’s recommendations are both robust and swiftly implemented. This work will continue through the inquiry process and into mid-2027, when the inquiry wraps up and the Australian Government is formally required to respond to its findings.
How you can get involved:
Make a submission:
- To make your own submission directly to the Committee, follow the instructions on the Senate Committee website
- If you would like to contribute your experience or voice to HFA’s organisational submission, please register your interest
- You can also join the submission of other groups and organisations – contact them for instructions.
Support our advocacy: If you are interested in participating in HFA’s broader campaign and advocacy efforts targeting key decision-makers, please email Natashia Coco at ncoco@haemophilia.org.au.
We will update our website shortly with additional resources and FAQs in a dedicated BBV Inquiry section.
Stay up-to-date
HFA will share regular updates on the progress of the Inquiry and our advocacy efforts.
Due to the sensitive nature of this topic and how it affects our community members, HFA has chosen to limit social media posts and will primarily communicate our regular updates via email and the HFA website.
To keep up-to-date with developments, sign up to HFA e-news.
Getting support
We recognise that this Inquiry may bring up questions, concerns, and a mix of feelings, from hope and energy to anger, frustration and distress for our community members.
If this situation affects you, this is an important time to reach out for support, for example, talking to those close to you, other affected people with bleeding disorders or seeking professional help from:
- Your usual counsellor
- Your social worker/psychologist/counsellor at your Haemophilia Treatment Centre
- Your GP (who can also give a referral to counselling)
- Lifeline – phone 131114
For questions about your current hepatitis C or liver health, speak to your hepatitis specialist or your GP. If you think you may have been at risk for hepatitis C and would like to have testing, speak to your GP or contact HepLink (national telehealth service). If you have questions relating to HIV or HIV/HCV coinfection, speak to your HIV or coinfection treating team.
