NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM

In reply to the Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (19 June 2007).

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health): I have been advised that:

1. Despite the risks associated with non-professional ('backyard') piercings and the availability of professional body piercing services, some people still choose to conduct non-professional piercings. SAVIVE provides piercing needles, along with information and education on blood-borne virus prevention and referrals to professional piercing services in an attempt to reduce the spread of blood-borne infections.

2. SAVIVE reports that approximately one body piercing kit is being provided in each of the six sites per year and therefore it is not possible to link the distribution of these kits with suggested high rates of infections. In order to reduce the risk of infection, SAVIVE provides information on the dangers of non-professional piercing as part of the kits and recommends that people utilise professional piercing services.

3. The provision of body piercing equipment through SAVIVE is not funded by the Government.

SAVIVE has withdrawn the distribution of body piercing kits while advice is sought from the Department of Health about the efficacy of this strategy in reducing blood-borne virus transmission.