AFAO Media Release | 15 December 2012

The Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) has welcomed changes to the Gillard Cabinet announced this week. AFAO   congratulates the Hon. Nicola Roxon on her appointment as Attorney General, leading human rights and key federal anti-discrimination   reforms.

AFAO also congratulates the Hon. Tanya Plibersek on her appointment as Health Minister, takes leadership in Australia’s domestic HIV   response at a time of significant opportunity to reenergise the Australian response based on what we now know works in treatment and   prevention.

AFAO acknowledges Ministers Roxon and Plibersek for the powerful roles they have played in their respective Ministries to date. Minister Roxon as Health Minister made significant progress in Australian Hospital and Health Reform and E Health and reasserted Commonwealth HIV leadership through the 6th National HIV Strategy. Minister Plibersek in her role as Minister for Human Services led major changes at Centrelink.

We welcome the Hon. Mark Butler’s promotion and with it the increased attention to the   portfolios of Mental Health and Ageing, and, significantly, Social Inclusion. AFAO is pleased to see Minister Macklin taking on responsibility for Disability Reform and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, a major initiative that will profoundly change opportunities and participation for people with disability, including people with HIV, in Australia.

We also welcome the Hon Brendan O’Connor’s appointment as Minister for Human Services, and look forward to working with him to ensure that Centrelink, and in particular the DSP, can fulfil its function as a strong safety net for DSP recipients with HIV and that proposed reforms to assessment from January 1 do not harm those who are vulnerable or whose multiple conditions fall between the cracks of Centrelink’s assessment processes.

For Media comment: Rob Lake on 0421 040 538