Mr Quick asked the Minister for Health and Ageing, upon notice, on 27 November 2003:

(1) Is he aware that in Australia the rate of newly diagnosed cases of HIV has increased over the past year, particularly among indigenous Australians.

(2) What is the Government's current level of support for HIV prevention efforts within Australia.

(3) Can he confirm that the World Health Organisation and UNAIDS estimated that public sector spending on HIV vaccine research and development amounted to less than 1% of spending on all health and pharmaceutical related research and development in 2001.

(4) What is the Government's spending commitment to HIV vaccine research and development.

(5) Can he confirm that the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria recently announced that contributions to the fund are inadequate to meet its objectives.

(6) Can he confirm that Australia is the only western country that does not contribute to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; if so, can he explain the Government's position.

(7) Is the Government planning to contribute to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

(8) Is he planning to attend the XV International AIDS Conference to be held in Bangkok in July 2004.

Mr Abbott (Minister for Health and Ageing) —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) I am aware of the increase in newly diagnosed cases of HIV over the past year. There has been an increase in the number of new diagnoses of HIV amongst Indigenous Australians, from 13 in 2001 to 23 in 2002. However, the overall number of infections in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples remains small (180 new diagnoses since 1993) and fluctuates considerably from year to year.

(2) Australia's response to HIV/AIDS is considered to be among the best in the world, and has resulted in a sharp decline in deaths from AIDS since the mid-1990's. The Australian Government spends a total of approximately $48 million per year directly on HIV/AIDS initiatives. Of that $48 million, approximately $24 million per year is allocated through the Department of Health and Ageing for national HIV/AIDS education, prevention and promotion programs; HIV/AIDS research and surveillance; and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sexual health programs. Further funding is provided to States and Territories through the broadbanded Public Health Outcome Funding Agreements (PHOFAs) for the development and implementation of local State and Territory HIV strategies, including support for HIV testing. In 2002-03, States and Territories received a total of $124.2 million under the PHOFAs for national public health programs.

(3) The World Health Organisation and UNAIDS estimates that public sector spending on HIV vaccine research and development amounted to US$430-US$470 million in 2001. The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative reported in November 2002 that this expenditure accounts for less than 1% of global spending on health and pharmaceutical related research and development. According to the UNAIDS Progress Report on the Global Response to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic 2003, although definitive figures are not available, it is likely that spending on vaccine research and development in 2003 will significantly exceed 2001 levels.

(4) The majority of funding (around 70%) provided to the Australian Centre for Hepatitis and HIV Virology Research in 2003 was provided for HIV vaccine research and development. This constituted an amount of approximately $1.8 million. In addition, in 2003, the National Health and Medical Research Council funded 9 grants specifically for research into HIV/AIDS vaccines, totalling an amount of approximately $675,000. Funding for HIV vaccine research and development is only a small part of Australia's national research effort in HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. The Australian Government currently provides approximately $14 million annually for this national research.

(5) The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced in July 2003, that without considerable increases in funding it will not have the resources to meet the anticipated cost of the next round of proposals it receives.

(6) On 18 February 2004, the Australian Government Minister for Foreign Affairs announced that Australia would contribute $25 million over the next three years to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

(7) Yes. The Australian Government will contribute $25 million to the Global Fund over the next three years.

(8) A decision will be made by June 2004 regarding attendance.