Lisa Singh (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) welcomes the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee's positive recommendation of the "game-changing" HIV prevention drug, Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), on 9 February 2018;

(b) notes that:

  (i) every averted HIV transmission saves close to $1 million in lifetime care and treatment costs,

  (ii) while significant advancements have been made, the HIV epidemic remains one of the greatest public health challenges facing Australia, its region and the world, and

  (iii) progress towards ending HIV in Australia has stalled at around 1,000 notifications a year, and that the situation is particularly urgent in Indigenous communities, with HIV rates now trending above the rate for non-Indigenous Australians for the first time ever; and

(c) urges:

  (i) the Minister for Health to list PrEP on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme urgently, thereby expanding affordable access to an estimated 31 000 people, and

  (ii) the Turnbull Government to match Labor's commitment to make HIV history in Australia, including $10 million a year to renew Australia's HIV response by restoring the funding and capacity that the Government has cut from HIV peak organisations, and $3 million a year improve prevention, testing and treatment for 'hidden populations' who fall outside the traditional HIV response.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government received the report of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee on 9 February and it's currently under consideration. This government has listed all medicines that have received a positive recommendation by the committee. Funding is currently being provided to a number of organisations for community-led efforts, including prevention and education activities, access to technology for treatments and testing, and surveillance and research activities for HIV.

Question agreed to.