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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-11-27 Daily Xml
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WORLD AIDS DAY

Ms CICCARELLO (Norwood) (15:13): In 1988, the World Health Organisation declared the first World AIDS Day in response to the epidemic that was continuing to sweep the globe. In a concerted effort to raise public awareness about HIV and AIDS issues, as well as to highlight the need for the continuing development of education and prevention initiatives, World AIDS Day was to serve as a reminder to everyone that this problem was far from going away.

Next Monday, 1 December, marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Unfortunately, its message is still as relevant and necessary today. The statistics are sobering, and I am sure that most people are aware of the current AIDS crisis in sub-Saharan Africa, a region that accounts for 67 per cent of all people living with HIV and 72 percent of AIDS deaths in 2007. While this seems to garner the most press attention and global government intervention, as obviously it should, it does tend to overshadow the state of HIV and AIDS in Australia, so it is important to spend a brief moment outlining the history of HIV and AIDS in our own backyard.

Between 1981 and 2007, 27,311 diagnoses of HIV infection were made, and there were 10,230 diagnoses of AIDS and 6,767 deaths following AIDS in Australia. The estimated number of people living with HIV infection in Australia in 2007 was 16,692. The candlelight memorial held last night was a sad but proud reminder that we must honour every death and value every life.

It is a fact that Australia continues to have one of the lowest rates of HIV diagnosis among similarly developed countries. It is also a fact, and an alarming one, that, over the last few years, the overall rate of new diagnoses in Australia has increased and that, last year, there were 1,051 new cases of HIV diagnosis. Whether that is as a result of complacency, a lack of awareness, a misguided belief that treatment exists which relegates HIV and AIDS to a mere annoyance in an otherwise healthy life or a peer and familial reluctance to discuss a disease that has always had an inevitable accompanying stigma, I am not sure.

It is over two decades since we saw the federal Labor government commission the infamous grim reaper advertisements on TV; an extremely confrontational campaign which brought the issue of HIV and AIDS to the forefront of people's minds, especially young people. However, the youth of today have never seen this campaign. They have never been exposed to the harsh reality brought home so vividly by the campaign; that it is not just the person you are having sex with but all that person's previous partners as well. It may, therefore, be a telling factor that the number one age group that has registered an increase in these new cases of infection are those under 30 years. That is why World AIDS Day is so important. It is recognised by millions of people in more than 190 countries around the globe. It is a stark reminder that there are still serious and current challenges posed by HIV and AIDS.

The theme of this year's World AIDS Day is: Enjoy life. Take Control. Stop HIV/AIDS. It is a theme about personal responsibility, of awareness about your own choices and how they might impact on others. Importantly, though, it also emphasises that HIV/AIDS is not a moratorium on passion and fun. You can still enjoy life and have a great time but, like anything in life, it must be balanced with judgment and personal responsibility.

The peak body for HIV/AIDS is the AIDS Council of South Australia which is located in Norwood. I am honoured to say that it is another one of the many fantastic groups in my electorate which dedicate their time and commitment in promoting health empowerment to the community. The AIDS Council was formed in the mid-1980s as part of the overwhelming community response to the HIV/AIDS crisis. Its vision is simple: a future free of HIV. Its mission is essential: to improve the health and wellbeing of its clients and prevent the transmission of HIV.

Its strategic directions—to prevent transmission, advocate change, maximise health and wellbeing, provide a leadership role and to increase the council's sustainability and independence—continue to form the backbone of the considerable challenges confronting the council. The AIDS Council is not just about safe sex campaigns (which are, of course, important) but also about advocacy, education programs, personal development skills building, information and referrals. All these are vital for effective health promotion to the community and I am pleased that the AIDS Council does this with such commitment and passion for the cause. To Gary Spence, the acting executive director, and his fantastic team: a job well done.

World AIDS Day is a time for maximising public awareness about HIV/AIDS and, in particular, how to prevent its spread. However, it must also highlight the need for support and understanding for people living with HIV/AIDS. Discrimination and stigma associated with this disease must stop and people living with HIV/AIDS deserve to be and must be treated with compassion and understanding. Fortunately, there are many wonderful organisations in South Australia that provide this support and assistance, and I give my heartfelt thanks to them all.

The red ribbon, the international symbol of HIV and AIDS awareness, represents support for those living with HIV/AIDS and their caregivers. I encourage everyone to go to Rundle Mall tomorrow to purchase one. Wear it as a sign of respect, a show of support and a blazing reminder to everyone that HIV/AIDS has not gone away and will not go away without the entire community getting involved

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