Cath Ovenden and Nicole Gaunt are among 800 people protesting funding cuts to gay health group Healthy Communities at King George Square. Ms Ovenden and Ms Gaunt travelled from Maleny for the rally and said the cut in funding for QAHC was what had motivated them to come. The LNP government last week announced it was withdrawing $2.5 million of funding from Healthy Communities, the state's only health organisation dedicated to the prevention of HIV/AIDS among the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said the government would instead redirect the money towards a Ministerial Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS to review and redirect awareness and prevention campaigns. Organisers of the rally were also critical of the LNP government's failure to clarify its position on civil unions.

Riki Baldwin protests funding cuts to gay health group Healthy Communities at King George Square. Credit:Bridie Jabour The party is formally opposed to civil unions and Premier Campbell Newman said before the election he would repeal the law so long as people were not left in "legal limbo". He had said he believed it would be leaving people in "legal limbo" to keep civil unions for people who have already entered them but prevent other couples from entering them. Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie – one of the most vocal opponents when the civil unions bill was introduced last year – has requested Crown Law advice on the matter but refused to say what moves the government is likely to take on them. John Ebert and partner John Stafford were among hundreds of couples to have their relationship legally recognised after the civil partnerships bill passed last year.

Mr Ebert is also one of the founders of the Queensland Association of Healthy Communities. ‘‘I’m really upset the civil union laws will be taken away from us,’’ Mr Ebert said while taking part in yesterday's protest. ‘‘But it’s equally upsetting to see the government scrap its financial support for a much-needed health service.’’ On the Facebook Event page called 'EMERGENCY RALLY: Defend Civil Unions, SAVE Healthy Communities! (TODAY WE RALLY!!)' organisers wrote of their displeasure at the scrapping of funding for Healthy Communities and the need for a clear position on civil unions. "We will not stand by silently as our rights are being stripped away," the page reads.

"We will not allow this government to openly promote discrimination! "Join the rally to send a clear message to Campbell Newman and the LNP that they are being put on notice. You don't get to take away our rights without a fight!" In Parliament yesterday afternoon, Mr Springborg defended the decision to reallocate the funding, saying he was alarmed by the sharp increase in HIV rates over the past 10 years. Mr Springborg said many people had said to him they thought the HIV/AIDS issue had been off the radar since the “grim reaper” ads launched in the 1980s. “This government takes it seriously. This government is serious about putting this issue front and centre in the community again,” he said.

Mr Springborg said it was not just an issue for gay men but also the community at large, the indigenous community, sex workers, and fly-in-fly-out communities. “What I’ve done is committed to redirect that funding, not cutting that funding, reallocating the funding around a ministerial committee that is focused on AIDS,” he said. Mr Springborg said he was opening nominations for people who wish to sit on the committee for a three-year term from July 1. He said he was keen to ensure “this important health issue” never went off the radar in Queensland and Australia again. Mr Springborg later told reporters he would not meet with protesters.

"I have made my decision with regards to this. That decision stands," he said. Mr Springborg said there was a need to "refocus" on the HIV/AIDS issue. Loading "It needs a shock to the system," he said of prevention efforts. - with Daniel Hurst and AAP