Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1263, standing in my name and the names of Senators Singh and Di Natale, by omitting paragraph (a)(ii) and substituting: (a)(ii) that the national World AIDS Day theme for Australia in 2018 is 'Everybody Counts'.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) that 1 December 2018 is World AIDS Day, which raises awareness about HIV and AIDS, supports people living with HIV and commemorates those who have died,

(ii) that the national World AIDS Day theme for Australia in 2018 is 'Everybody Counts',

(iii) that progress towards ending HIV in Australia is particularly urgent in Indigenous communities,

(iv) the importance of eliminating the discrimination and stigma faced by individuals with a positive HIV diagnosis in Australia and internationally,

(v) that the HIV epidemic remains one of the greatest public health challenges facing Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and the world, and

(vi) the critical role funding plays in research and development into finding better treatment methods and a cure for HIV/AIDS;

(b) welcomes the addition of the game-changing HIV prevention treatment pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme earlier this year; and

(c) recognises and commends the organisers of World AIDS Day 2018 in bringing together communities to raise awareness, and constructively work towards an end to this worldwide epidemic.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) 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.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government has worked with the community to develop the Eighth National HIV Strategy 2018-2022. The strategy will be the road map to help further reduce new infections and improve health outcomes for all Australians, in particular First Australians and culturally and linguistically diverse Australians. Its goals include virtually eliminating HIV transmission in Australia by 2022. The $180 million listing of PrEP on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme will benefit up to 32,000 Australians. With this listing we will put Australia in reach of being one of the first countries in the world to end the transmission of HIV. A few short years ago, defeating HIV was seen as impossible. But today we're on the cusp of eliminating the transmission of HIV, and we continue to support those living with HIV.

Question agreed to.