Victoria’s Health Minister David Davis chose an AIDS 2014 pre-conference forum titled “Beyond Blame” to announce all states have commitment to the national goal of reducing new infections of HIV to zero by 2020 Australia wide.
Decriminalising HIV in Victoria
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’s HIV Law: Section 19A and the necessity for its abolition
Victoria is the only State in Australia to have a specific law criminalising the transference of HIV. Section 19A of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) establishes the criminal offence of ‘intentionally causing a very serious disease’ – with ‘very serious disease’ defined exclusively to mean HIV infection. The offence carries a maximum penalty of up…
National HIV Strategy, Section 19a and Transmissions
Earlier this week the Federal Health Minister, The Hon. Peter Dutton MP, accompanied by Victoria’s Minister for Health David Davis, launched the National HIV Strategy for 2014-2017. Amongst the highlights were new arrangements for dispensing HIV medications and the potential for Australia to soon see “Self HIV Test Kits” on the shelves of your local chemist….