Senate Inquiry into use of anti-malarial drugs

A Senate Inquiry into the use of the Quinoline anti-malarial drugs Mefloquine and Tafenoquine in the Australian Defence Force has been approved.

FILE PHOTO (1999): Australian soldiers man a vehicle check point on a road in East Timor. Photo by Corporal Brian Hartigan.

The Labor Party, with the help of cross-benchers, is claiming credit for successfully established the Senate Inquiry.

Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Amanda Rishworth MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee Senator Alex Gallacher made the announcement in a joint press release yesterday.

“This Senate Inquiry will provide a transparent and thorough investigation into the concerns of Quinoline anti-malarial drugs in the ADF,” the press release said.

“With concerns from the serving and ex-service community about the side effects of some anti-malarials, this Senate Inquiry will allow our ex-service personnel, medical professionals and peak bodies to speak firsthand of their experience and knowledge of Mefloquine and Tafenoquine.

“The Coalition, Greens and Senate Crossbench have shown their support today for Labor’s push to have this Senate Inquiry established and Labor looks forward to working with the Senate during this process.”

The Senate Inquiry is open for public submissions and will provide dates for upcoming public hearings with a final report due back to the Senate on Monday 17 September, 2018.

Terms of Reference:

The use of the Quinoline anti-malarial drugs Mefloquine and Tafenoquine in the Australian Defence Force with particular reference to:

• Current and past policies and practices for prescribing quinolone anti-malarial drugs to ADF personnel
• Current and past policies and practices for identifying and reporting adverse drug reactions from quinoline anti-malarial drugs among ADF personnel
• The nature and extent of any adverse health effects of those who have taken Mefloquine/Tafenoquine on serving and former ADF personnel
• Support available for partners, carers and families of personnel who experience any adverse health effects of quinoline anti-malarial drugs
• A comparison of international evidence/literature available on the impact of quinoline anti-malarials
• How other governments have responded to claims regarding quinoline anti- malarials
• Any other related matters

Committee Secretariat contacts:

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee
Department of the Senate
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6277 3535
Fax: +61 2 6277 5818
fadt.sen@aph.gov.au

Lodging a submission

Find submissions lodgement advice and procedure details here.

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