'People are still dying': Lasting scars of Australia's tainted blood scandal

Tristan Stanley was 10 when his parents received a chilling phone call: their son had tested positive for hepatitis C. Born with haemophilia, Tristan was no stranger to hospitals, but this news brought a new layer of fear and anger. The blood product given to save his life might now end it.

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My parents were in shock. They didn't know a lot about hepatitis C. They weren't even aware we'd been tested for it.

Stanley is one of thousands of Australians infected with HIV or hepatitis C through contaminated plasma products and blood transfusions between the 1970s and 1990s. Hundreds died, and many others have lived for decades with severe health issues. He questions how so many could be infected if Australia's blood supply was as safe as claimed.

While institutions have offered empathy, survivors say concrete action is lacking. Stanley hopes newly uncovered cabinet minutes, raising questions about decisions made during the crisis, will finally prompt a response. Unlike countries such as Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, which have established independent inquiries and compensation schemes, survivors argue Australia has yet to fully confront this dark chapter.

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We were told we had one of the safest blood supplies in the world. But if that's the case, how did so many get infected?

A 2004 Senate inquiry into hepatitis C found financial compensation was not in the best interests of those infected and that best practices were followed. This conclusion distressed many, as did the government's failure to issue a national apology. The Department of Health acknowledged the profound and lasting impact of historical contaminated blood products and stated support initiatives were implemented after the 2004 inquiry.

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Now they might listen. Now they might act.