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

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. Given today is World AIDS Day, can the minister update the Senate about the government's current programs to help combat HIV-AIDS and blood borne illnesses?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Smith for his question and his continuing interest in this issue. I would also like to acknowledge the work that he is doing as chair of the Parliamentary Friends of HIV/AIDS, Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

The Australian government is investing $22.5 million over four years for prevention programs to help address increasing rates of sexually transmissible infections and blood borne viruses, including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. People with STIs are at least two to five times more likely than uninfected people to acquire HIV.

In 2012, there were more than 230,000 Australians living with a chronic hepatitis C infection, predominantly through sharing needles. More than 207,000 have hepatitis B. These diseases are preventable. That is why it is critical the government strengthen our efforts to support health service providers and tailor our safe sex and prevention messages so that they actually connect with the people most at risk. The program targets priority populations, including gay and bisexual men, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and linguistically diverse Australians, young people, people in rural and regional areas and people who inject drugs.

The government's program comprises $7.2 million to reduce high rates of STIs among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander priority populations, particularly in regional and remote settings; $1 million for point-of-care demonstration testing projects to increase the HIV testing rate by offering tests which provide rapid results; $5.1 million for needle and syringe programs, particularly in rural and regional areas; and $4.6 million to increase uptake of testing and treatment for hepatitis B among priority populations. Australia has been a leader in minimising the spread of these infections, and the new investment will build on this work.

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

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister update the Senate on the Minister for Health's recent announcement about giving people access to HIV home testing and improving access to antiretroviral therapies?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Testing and treatment for HIV has become easier and more accessible under changes being made by the Australian government. A restriction preventing the manufacture and sale of HIV home self-tests has been removed, and dispensing arrangements for HIV therapies are to be changed. This would enable Australians to test themselves for HIV in their own homes.

Companies can now apply to the TGA for approval to supply their test kits. The kits, if they meet Australia's rigorous standards and are approved, will be able to be sold direct to consumers. Home self-testing provides an additional testing option that complements current options and allows people living with HIV to learn their HIV status and seek appropriate treatment and support. Early diagnosis of HIV is critical to supporting Australians living with the condition to get the treatment they need sooner and to stop its spread.

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

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Can the minister advise the Senate of the new national strategies to target HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The five new and improved national strategies will provide a coordinated national response to HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and STIs and a specific strategy targeting blood-borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections in the Indigenous community. The BBV and STI strategies were launched by the federal health minister on 7 July 2014.

It is an important time to renew our efforts through the five national strategies, which have been endorsed by all state and territory health ministers. These include the Seventh National HIV Strategy, the Fourth National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Blood-Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy, the Fourth National Hepatitis C Strategy, the Third National Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy and the Second National Hepatitis B Strategy. The Australian government will continue to work in partnership with state and territory governments and key stakeholders through the recently released five national BBV and STI infection strategies.