In Victoria, if one person infects another with HIV they may be prosecuted under section 19a of Crimes Act, potentially facing a maximum penalty of 25 years in gaol. Victoria is the only state in Australia with an HIV specific law.
In a surprise announcement during a Pre-conference public forum on HIV criminalisation, Victoria’s Health Minister David Davis revealed the Crimes Act will be amended, in an effort to improve public health.
Coming at a time when Victoria’s latest new infection figures are at a 20 year high, all efforts must be made on all fronts if Victoria is to achieve its goal of zero new HIV infections by 2020.
This report aired on The Wire – 6pm Monday 21st July 2014, hosted by Tim Roxburgh, presented by Michael Feldman and produced by Dean Beck and Michael Feldman.
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Building skills for change in Asia’s MSM community
Anna-Laura Ross from the Towards an HIV Cure project
Professor Chris Beyrer
Dr David Iser, local hepatologist and clinician scientist