Ms THEOPHANOUS (Northcote): I rise to speak in support of this bill because it relates to an issue of concern that is having a very real impact in my community. I refer to the structural and cultural barriers which continue to impact the accessibility of HIV testing in Victoria and consequently the health and wellbeing of many Victorians. As many of you will know, the Northcote electorate is home to a significant LGBTI community, and the stigma associated with HIV is something which has impacted the LGBTI community in a very real and very visceral way. My electorate of Northcote, of course, falls within the federal electorate of Cooper, and on 18 May we saw overwhelming support for Labor in Cooper, and support for our wonderful federal Labor member for Cooper, Ged Kearney. That is why there are many in my electorate who are now concerned that under a coalition government our community will not receive the benefit of a new LGBTI health clinic as part of a very significant upgrade that federal Labor would have delivered to the Your Community Health centre in Northcote. We know that LGBTI people have health needs that cannot always be met in mainstream health services, which are not tailored to LGBTI needs and where LGBTI people can face discrimination. The upgrades to the clinic would have provided world‑class health care for LGBTI people by co‑locating a range of tailored health services, including GPs, nurses and allied health staff. Sadly, the federal coalition were characteristically silent when it came to this vitally important upgrade, but I guess this is no surprise considering they were almost totally silent when it came to the people of Cooper. I know that my friend and Labor colleague the member for Cooper will continue to fight and advocate to the federal government to secure funds from the coalition so that the upgrade will go ahead, but it will be an uphill battle. Throughout the federal election campaign we continually heard the coalition run the line that they are delivering record funding for hospitals, health care and schools. Unfortunately we know this statement is neither illuminating nor substantively true. The fact is that the federal coalition have sliced away at funding for health and hospitals, with increases in commonwealth funding barely keeping up with population growth. While the changes in this bill may seem small, they are an important part of our continuing work in this space and will have a significant impact on people’s lives. The bill removes provisions in the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, which singles out HIV special requirements, including making it mandatory for medical practitioners to ensure a person is provided with specific information prior to testing. These special requirements contribute to the stigma and discrimination which continue to be associated with HIV and create additional barriers to testing. We need to make testing as easy as possible in order to reduce the prevalence and transmission rates of this disease and to ensure Victorians receive the best treatment possible. The changes contained in this bill are an important step in modernising and normalising the testing process as well as addressing existing difficulties in expanding testing availability. It also sends a strong, clear message that testing for HIV should not be singled out or treated differently and should be free from judgement. The same goes for Victorians seeking testing or treatment for HIV. As we know, judgements are made by people all the time. These judgements are informed by many things, whether it is fear, prejudice, ignorance or even hatred. But we know that most of the behaviour associated with making judgements which lead to stigma, discrimination and isolation is not something we are born with. Often our children are the best example of how this behaviour is learned and why we have the responsibility as a government and a community to challenge these attitudes wherever they occur. I am reminded of a recent visit to one of the schools in my community, Thornbury High School. This is a remarkable school that has students from a wide range of backgrounds, including a significant proportion of Indigenous students and students whose families do not speak English at home. However, the reason I was out at Thornbury High a couple of weeks back with the parliamentary secretary for education was to celebrate the wonderful partnership the school has with Croxton Special School. The partnership between the schools is a learning integration program providing the students of Croxton Special School the opportunity to be co‑enrolled at Thornbury High School, ensuring an inclusive education environment for students of all abilities. Through this partnership the school was recently able to attract $200 000 in funding from the Andrews Labor government’s inclusive schools program. The funding has allowed the school to provide permanent facilities for Thornbury High’s inclusive outdoor play space and learning setting. Why do I mention the inclusive schools program in the context of this bill? It is the young people, the students of Thornbury High, that have led this program and driven the application for funding. These young people have decided that their school will not be a place of judgement or a place where people are stigmatised, isolated or made to feel different. These young people have confronted existing structural challenges and in their place they have brought inclusiveness because in their minds they are all kids, and no‑one should be left behind or made to feel different. It is an absolute honour to support these students and the work of this school. I am immensely pleased that their vision has been transformed into a reality through investment from the Andrews government. Twenty or 30 years ago HIV was a life sentence. It meant a life of isolation, characterised by discrimination and fear. Thanks to the incredible work of activists, health professionals and government, things are different now. However, there are still many people for whom a HIV‑positive result still feels like a life sentence. We still have some way to go. The changes contained in this bill are overdue in many respects. The sections of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 that this bill seeks to repeal are not necessary as they are now covered by the National HIV Testing Policy, which was introduced in 2011. The principles outlined in the policy ensure that testing is ethical and voluntary and ensure that people still receive the advice and support they need prior to undergoing testing and when receiving results. It will also bring Victoria into line with other jurisdictions, harmonising Australian policy on HIV testing. Critically in addition to removing the structural stigma around testing, these changes will remove a key barrier to the expansion of cost‑effective, peer‑led testing models. The HIV testing environment is rapidly evolving, as is demonstrated by the recent approval of some home testing kits by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. It is essential that our laws keep pace with medical advancement. The ease of at‑home testing is at odds with the current requirements. Addressing these inconsistencies is another important benefit of this bill. As my colleagues have stated, the Andrews government has a record to be proud of in this space. The Andrews Labor government has been leading the way when it comes to reducing HIV stigma and discrimination and investing in prevention, testing and treatment. This includes continuing to invest in prevention and testing services and, if it is diagnosed, ensuring that people have access to best practice, treatment and care. For example, people at risk of acquiring HIV can now access pre‑exposure, or PrEP, medications through their GP for less than $40 a month, following the Andrews government’s investment in a two‑year research study. We have also made significant changes and law reform that remove discrimination and outdated legislation, whether that relates to equality under adoption law, cracking down on the abhorrent practice of gay conversion therapy or the apology to those convicted under laws against homosexual acts. Through this bill and other measures our government is making changes to the law to remove barriers to the detection and diagnosis of HIV and to treatment but also improving access to services. As the member for Northcote I am proud to be part of a government that has made so much progress on this issue and remains committed to building on our strong record for the future. I am also proud of the strong local historical connection that the electorate of Northcote has— The …
