Bates, who serves as the Greens’ LGBTIQ+ spokesperson, debuted his OnlyFans channel this week with a video announcing the party’s plan to make HIV prevention medications PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) free for anyone with a prescription.
Both medications, which are already subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), still leave users out of pocket by hundreds of dollars annually due to gap payments—a cost Bates argues is unacceptable amid a cost-of-living crisis.
“You shouldn’t have to pay a fortune to be sexually responsible,” Bates said, emphasising the importance of making HIV prevention accessible to all, particularly the LGBTIQ+ community, which remains disproportionately affected by HIV.
“Ending HIV is too important to fly under the radar. I campaign on OnlyFans and Grindr because it gets attention. Sometimes you have to make a splash to make people pay attention to the things that matter.”
Bandt praised Bates’ inventive approach to reaching new audiences.
“When it comes to saving lives, you need to talk to everyone you can, and if that means using inventive measures to reach audiences with a plan that will save lives, then I think we should do it. Stephen Bates has a long history of reallyconnecting with his community and making sure that the people who need to hear the message about how we can save lives, get to hear it”.
Bates’ OnlyFans campaign follows his 2022 Grindr ad blitz — “You always come first with the Greens”
This campaign was widely credited for helping him win the Brisbane seat. With OnlyFans attracting over 28 million monthly visits from Australians, Bates says the platform is a strategic way to “speak to voters where they are”.
The Greens’ broader election platform also includes making contraceptives free and appointing an LGBTIQA+ Human Rights Commissioner, aiming to tackle ongoing discrimination in workplaces, healthcare, education, and public life. Greens candidate for Sydney, Luc Velez, highlighted the persistent challenges facing queer Australians, including higher rates of homelessness and mental ill health, and stressed the need for dedicated advocacy and resources.
As the election nears, the Greens’ bold digital outreach and policy commitments are resonating with younger, urban, and LGBTIQ+ voters—especially in Brisbane, which boasts one of Australia’s youngest electorates and a vibrant queer community4. With the prospect of a hung parliament, the Greens are positioning themselves as a decisive force for progressive change on sexual health and equality.
Bates summed up the campaign’s urgency: “Prevention and early intervention saves our healthcare system money in the long run. In this election, the stakes have never been higher. Keeping the Greens in will push Dutton out and force Labor to act. Because you will always come first with the Greens”.
