Andrew Giles (Scullin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

HIV is still here and it is on the move. This is, of course, the theme of this Thursday's World AIDS Day and it goes to the heart of this very important motion the member for Griffith has put before the House, which I am pleased to speak in support of. I was also very pleased to be in the chamber for the contribution of my friend the member for Moreton, who spoke very effectively and passionately about the challenges of overcoming discrimination, which has been at the heart of our successes as a country in overcoming many of the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS. I was also here for the contribution by the shadow minister for health, the member for Ballarat, who touched on the progress and cautioned about complacency, which I think really goes to the heart of where we sit today in Australia as well as looking more broadly to the challenges in the developing world posed by the continuing prevalence of HIV.

In this motion, there are a couple of elements that deserve to be drawn out. First is the question of awareness raising, noting that this is a very important week where we show our support for work that has been done and for people. We acknowledge that 36 million people have died around the world of complications relating to HIV and that there are a similar number today, tens of millions, who are living with HIV. We show our solidarity for all of those people and our support for them. We also acknowledge the extraordinary advances that have taken place—advances in treatment but also advances in public health and wider public policymaking. It is important that all of us in this debate touch upon the extraordinary contribution of then health minister Neal Blewett and, indeed, to acknowledge the bipartisanship that was shown at that time when this issue first came into Australian political life and the critical importance of that bold and entirely appropriate response. But, in acknowledging those actions and the advantages in treatment, there is a challenge that comes with it, and that challenge really comes to visibility because, of course, HIV still exists in Australia as it does in parts of the developing world, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa.

As well as HIV still existing, it is disappointing and disturbing but we have to face up to the fact that so do some of the stigmas, which the member for Moreton touched upon, going back to the eighties and nineties—some of them still persist. That is why this motion in this place is so important. That is why a bipartisan support of World AIDS Day is so important.

The member for Ballarat, again, said that there could be no room for complacency when we debate these issues. She dwelt on a couple of really important matters: firstly, that there are a very large number of Australia's who are unaware that they have HIV today; and, secondly, that rates are flatlining and increasing when it comes to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. This is not over as a public health problem, and we need to continue with our efforts when it comes to our work in treatments and our work in education, particularly around safe sex and some of the drug availability questions and, as other speakers have touched upon, PrEP. These continue to be very important, if we are to not only reach our goals of ending transmission worldwide by 2020 but also enable all Australians presently living with HIV to live full lives and participate fully in society.

This motion importantly acknowledges the roles played by people living with HIV and their friends. I think it is important to stress in this place the courage shown by many people at times when it was difficult to do so. It was their courage that created the impetus for effective political and public policy action that has been so successful in Australia. I also acknowledge, as previous speakers have done, the work of researchers and some of the advocacy bodies. I join other speakers in expressing my concern about the defunding of some advocacy organisations at a juncture when there is no time for complacency. I also join the call at the end of this resolution that this House will support actions to reduce stigma, prevent new transmissions and work towards a cure.

As we come towards World AIDS Day, I show my support with members of this House and other places to enable all Australians with HIV to live full lives. I join colleagues in making a statement not only in solidarity for all those who have past and all those living with HIV but also to take every action I can against further transmission. I commend the motion to the House.

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