Hollows had hateful views on people who had AIDS at the height of the epidemic in Australia when many were vulnerable and facing certain death. His statements at that time were potentially very damaging to the LGBTI community and the community at large.

He said that homosexuals were “recklessly spreading the virus”, describing the safe sex campaign as an inadequate way of dealing with the issue.

Hollows said the gay community had “hijacked” Australia’s AIDS policy and had promoted AIDS as affecting everyone, when it was basically a homosexual problem in Australia and people with AIDS should be quarantined. As we know, AIDS is everyone’s concern. 

Our advertising and public health campaigns put in place methods to reduce the infection rate and inform everyone about the spread of the disease and how to minimise risk. Australia’s response to the AIDS crisis was lauded as the best in the world by many international health and government organisations.

While there is no doubt The Fred Hollows Foundation do wonderful work saving the vision of many around the world, Hollow’s comments, which can only be described as hateful and bigoted, should exclude his placement on the five dollar bill, particularly in light of his persistence with this point of view after many AIDS researchers and experts challenged his statements.

Brian Hill, Goulburn.