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| Sandra Kanck Deputy Leader Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council |
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Legislative
Council |
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| Sandra Kanck Deputy Leader Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council |
Parliament Index |
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The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Urban Planning, representing the Minister for Human Services, a question about the rate of HIV infection and associated education programs in South Australia.
Leave granted.
The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: While Australia boasts a relatively low incidence of HIV/AIDS, new figures show that there has been a marked increase in diagnosed cases in Victoria and New South Wales in the first six months of this year. When HIV/AIDS first appeared in the early 1980s, many public awareness education campaigns were implemented and funded by both the state and federal governments. These were very successful campaigns which raised awareness and helped to modify the behaviour of people most at risk.
Twenty years later there have been a lot of advances, with pharmaceutical treatments available for HIV and AIDS, although there is no known cure. It is believed that the new generation of sexually active youth, particularly young gay men, is not being as vigilant in safe sex practices, perhaps due to a lack of education programs. These men have not had to see their friends, partners and lovers fade away from AIDS. It has been suggested to me that we need additional funding for a fresh approach or new specifically targeted programs. My questions are:
1. What is the current HIV infection rate in South Australia?
2. Has there been an increase in the infection rate in the past 12 months?
3. What audience specific programs is the government presently funding to educate young gay men about HIV/AIDS and prevention through safe sex practices?
4. Does the minister consider that there is good reason to increase the number of programs and the funding available?
In reply to Hon. SANDRA KANCK.
The Hon. DIANA LAIDLAW: The Minister for Human Services has provided the following information:
1. The rate of HIV infection in South Australia remains low and stable at around 27 new diagnoses each calendar year. There has been no appreciable change in the new HIV infection rate for South Australia over the past 7 years.
2. There has been no increase in the HIV infection rate in South Australia in the past 12 months. In the twelve- month period ending 30 September 2000, 25 people were diagnosed with HIV infection in South Australia, compared with 29 new diagnoses in the same period ending 30 September 1999.
3. Through the Department of Human Services, the government funds a range of HIV prevention programs. A number of these include young gay men in their target populations. Programs conducted by the AIDS Council of South Australia, the HIV Care and Prevention General Practice Program, and the COPE Multicultural Communicable Diseases Project fall into this category.
An especially important program funded by the government is the Child and Youth Health `Inside Out Project' which specifically targets young gay men under the age of 25. The purpose of the Inside Out Project is to provide HIV prevention and health promotion services for young gay men. For the 2000-2001 financial year, this Project has received a 19 per cent increase in its funding allocation, indicating the importance the government places on HIV prevention in this population. This significant increase will allow this very successful project to meet increased demand for its services.
4. The situation in New South Wales and Victoria described by the honourable member is of concern. The Department of Human Services has analysed reports on the increases in diagnosed cases of HIV in these States and is closely monitoring the situation in South Australia. At this stage there is no indication of a need to increase either the number of programs or the overall funding available. What is required is that HIV education and prevention programs continually evolve and change in response to the evolving and changing nature of the HIV epidemic in South Australia.
The government is not complacent about South Australia's low and stable rate of HIV infection and continues to fund a responsive approach to HIV prevention based on local epidemiology and local social research. Overall, gay men in South Australia are maintaining a culture of safer sex practices. Several programs funded by the Department of Human Services assist South Australian gay men to continue to maintain this culture. One of these programs, the HIV Care and Prevention General Practice Program, reported significant success in these efforts at the Australian Society for HIV Medicine Conference in Melbourne in October 2000.
The government is committed to maintaining a strategic response to HIV prevention in South Australia and the long-term goal of eliminating the transmission of HIV.
