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Thursday, 10 May 2012
Page: 3092

Presentation

Senator Rhiannon To move:

That the Senate—

   (a)   notes that:

      (i)   the World Health Organization estimates there are 9 300 new cases of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis in Burma each year, yet only around 300 people are currently receiving treatment,

      (ii)   Burma has some of the lowest coverage rates for anti-retroviral treatment in the world, yet anticipated funds from the Global Fund's round 11 that would have paid for 46 500 additional patients on anti-retroviral treatment, helping to bring total coverage to close to 100 000 people by 2018, has been cancelled, leaving tens of thousands of lives hanging in the balance, and

      (iii)   Australia is a generous donor to Burma, yet very little overseas development aid funding is currently available for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis treatment; and

   (b)   calls on the Government to urgently prioritise HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis treatment in its aid program to Burma by:

      (i)   increasing both bilateral and multilateral aid funding for HIV and tuberculosis treatment programs in Burma,

      (ii)   providing additional emergency funding for the Global Fund in 2012 and actively encouraging other donors to do the same, and

      (iii)   supporting the Government of Burma in taking the necessary steps to facilitate the planned scale-up of HIV and tuberculosis treatment.