The Australian Greens have announced their commitment to $10 million in funding to work towards ending HIV in Australia ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1st.
The Greens have also pledged an additional $1 million for national campaigns that fight discrimination and stigma faced by people living with HIV.
The $10 million in annual funding would begin from July 2019, and the $1 million would be rolled out over a four year period with a supplementary review.
Greens leader Dr Richard Di Natale says “we have the chance to end HIV in Australia.”
“The Greens will invest $10 million a year into organisations that do the incredibly important work of combating and preventing HIV,” Senator Di Natale said.
“We welcome the government’s announcement of HIV self-testing on the Therapeutic Goods Administration – a move that will go some way towards reducing the harm that stigma causes, but it doesn’t yet to far enough.”
“While Australia has had some success in reducing the transmission of HIV, we need to plan a process that will result in ending HIV.”
In September, the Kirby Institute released an annual surveillance report that showed new HIV diagnoses were at their lowest since 2010. Head of the institute’s Surveillance, Evaluation and Research Program Professor Rebecca Guy said while the decline is good news, there is still much more work to be done.
“PrEP offers every opportunity to drive down HIV to low levels, but it needs to reach all people who could benefit from it,” Professor Guy said.
“In particular, we need to improve access for gay and bisexual men living outside of inner-city areas, gay and bisexual men born overseas and Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander gay and bisexual men.”
The report also revealed that Australia has met global 2020 targets set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
Greens LGBTIQ+ spokesperson Janet Rice says we know that reducing stigma and discrimination will lead to more testing, which is essential to eliminating HIV.
“We’re also committing an additional $1 million per year into national campaigns that break down HIV stigma and discrimination, encourage safer sex and encourage regular testing.”
The effects of HIV stigma were seen on a national level earlier this year, when a fake email claimed the now-member for Wentworth Dr Kerryn Phelps would have to withdraw from the high profile by-election due to a HIV diagnosis.
WA AIDS Council CEO David Kernohan said the implication of the fake email was that someone living with HIV was not able to hold public office.
“No one would have the temerity to suggest a person who has diabetes, asthma or any other chronic disease, is not able to hold a public position,” Kernohan said.
“HIV is a chronic manageable illness that allows people to live productive, successful and useful lives, including public office should they so choose.”
OIP Staff
