Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

December the 1st, which is coming up in a couple of days time, of course marks World AIDS Day. More than 42 million people have died of AIDS related illnesses in the 40 years since the start of the epidemic. Too many people are without the medical support that they deserve and the treatment that they deserve. I want to pay tribute to Lady Roslyn Morauta, who is here as head of the global fund and chair of the board campaigning for the next replenishment round, because treatment can and does make a difference. Did you know, colleagues, that, if you are on HIV treatment, your viral load can go down to zero? Once you're down at zero, you cannot pass on HIV to another person. This is at the core of reaching in the next few years, according to the newly released strategy that Mark Butler launched today, the virtual elimination of HIV in Australia. 'U=U' means 'undetectable equals untransmissible'. This is why we need to test and treat Australians who may be vulnerable to acquiring HIV, destigmatise HIV and encourage testing throughout our community. We can reach an AIDS-free generation in Australia. I'm very glad to hear that the UK has also set itself an equivalent goal. We can create an AIDS-free agenda across the world.

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator. Your time has expired. Senator Ciccone—I'm very generous on the eve of Christmas!