Page 4204 - Week 13 - Thursday, 14 December 2006
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people can reach their potential, make a contribution and share the benefits of our multicultural way of life. I commend the ACT multicultural strategy 2006-2009 to the Assembly.
Papers
Mr Barr presented the following papers:
Pursuant to section 127—Non-Government Schools Education Council—Submission for the 2007-08 ACT Budget, dated 30 November 2006.
Pursuant to section 73—Government Schools Education Council—Priority Issues/Directions for the 2007-2008 Budget—Executive Summary, dated 30 November 2006.
HIV/AIDS
Discussion of matter of public importance
MR SPEAKER: I have received letters from Dr Foskey, Mr Gentleman and Ms Porter proposing that matters of public importance be submitted to the Assembly. In accordance with standing order 79, I have determined that the matter proposed by Ms Porter be submitted to the Assembly, namely:
The importance to the Canberra community of preventing further transmission of HIV/AIDS, and providing care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS.
MS PORTER (Ginninderra) (4.39): Mr Speaker, HIV/AIDS has been around for over 20 years. The number of cases reported in the ACT each year is small but it is still significant in that the disease affects individual lives and contributes to a total which is alarming.
Since testing began in the early 1980s, and until the end of March 2006, 290 people have been diagnosed with HIV in the ACT. Of these, 120 people have been diagnosed with AIDS, and I am advised that there have been about 88 AIDS related deaths in the ACT. This means that there are over 200 people living with HIV in the ACT. It is estimated that, by the end of March, 255,517 people will have acquired HIV, 9,806 been diagnosed with AIDS and 6,611 died as a result of AIDS-related illness Australia wide. These are very sobering figures, I think you would agree, Mr Speaker.
Activities are undertaken at a local and national level to address the issues of HIV and AIDS. Here in the ACT we have a ministerial council on HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, sexually transmissible infections and related diseases. The council is known as SHAHRD. The ministerial advisory committee on AIDS, sexual health and hepatitis reports to the Australian government Minister for Health and Ageing on HIV/AIDS issues, and the HIV/AIDS and sexually transmittable infections subcommittee reports to that advisory committee.
The newly established blood borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections subcommittee has a more strategic role: considering issues of importance across Australia. This committee reports to the Australian Population Health Development
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