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

I, and also on behalf of Senators McAllister, Singh and Simms, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) 1 December marks World AIDS Day, which is held every year to raise awareness about the issues surrounding HIV and AIDS, and is a day for people to show their support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died,

(ii) the aim of World AIDS Day is to encourage all Australians to be aware of HIV, to take action to reduce the transmission of HIV by promoting safe sexual practices, and to ensure that people living with HIV can participate fully in the life of the community, free from stigma and discrimination, and

(iii) while significant advancements in treatment and diagnosis have been made, 30 years after the discovery of the HIV virus the HIV epidemic remains one of the greatest public health challenges facing Australia, its region and the world;

(b) reaffirms the commitment made by all Australian Health Ministers in 2014 in signing the AIDS 2014 Legacy Statement, which commits to:

(i) a rejuvenated response to HIV and ensuring That the HIV responses of all jurisdictions reflect new scientific advances and the vision of ending HIV and AIDS,

(ii) continue measures to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain a high priority area for Australia's HIV response and to achieving HIV prevention and treatment targets, with a particular focus on research and health literacy,

(iii) taking necessary actions, in partnership with key affected communities and sector partners, to remove barriers to accessing HIV testing, treatment, prevention, care and support across legal, regulatory, policy, social, political and economic domains,

(iv) continuing to support high quality, multi-disciplinary, collaborative research that incorporates basic science, clinical research, social and behavioural science and operational research to inform local and international action to eliminate HIV,

(v) advancing actions to ensure an appropriately trained and supported HIV workforce, including in clinical, community, research and policy and program areas, and

(vi) continuing to demonstrate global leadership in the response to HIV; and

(c) acknowledges the role played by people living with HIV, their friends, family and supporters, AIDS activists and researchers, past and present, in making HIV a disease people can live with.

Question agreed to.