Inquiry win in drug trial war
IT’S a minor victory in a battle with a long way yet to run, but a Senate inquiry into Australian Malarial Institute-conducted drug trials is welcome news. The drugs involved were mefloquine and tafenoquine, the former approved for use, the latter even now not cleared for general use by appropriate authorities.
A significant number of those who participated in those trials were Townsville based when they deployed to Bougainville, and then East Timor.
Those responsible for approving and conducting the trials insist they were appropriately conducted while denying the evidence that many participants have suffered lasting effects.
Opposition veterans’ affairs spokeswoman Amanda Rishworth yesterday announced Labor’s initiative for a Senate inquiry which the Government has agreed to.