17c起草社区

Australia鈥檚 push to virtually eliminate HIV transmission by 2030 will continue with the funding announced in the 2026-27 Federal Budget, with the Albanese Government maintaining key investments in prevention, treatment, and community-led HIV programs.

In a joint statement released after Tuesday night鈥檚 Budget, Health Equity Matters and National Association of People with HIV Australia (NAPWHA) welcomed continued funding aimed at keeping HIV prevention and treatment affordable and accessible.

The Budget includes $52 million over four years to ensure HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) remains affordable across Australia, alongside $42.5 million over three years to continue a national scheme delivering HIV treatment to all people living with HIV in Australia.

鈥淵ou cannot end HIV transmission while a significant number of people in Australia cannot afford the medicines that prevent and treat it,鈥� said Adjunct Associate Professor Mark Orr AM, President of Health Equity Matters.

鈥淭onight’s Budget keeps that door open.鈥�

NAPWHA President Scott Harlum said affordable access to medication remained central to Australia鈥檚 HIV response.

鈥淧eople with HIV on effective treatment cannot pass on the virus. Yet until recently, Medicare-ineligible people could not access life-saving HIV medicines that cost other Australians a few dollars on the PBS,鈥� Harlum said.

鈥淭his Budget ensures those medicines are affordable for all that need them, which will minimise HIV transmission and take us closer to virtual elimination of HIV transmission in Australia.鈥�

The organisations also acknowledged $41.7 million over three years to continue community-led programs implementing recommendations from the National HIV Taskforce, chaired by Health Minister Mark Butler.

That funding will support programs including increased access to HIV self-testing devices, community health promotion and education, workforce training, and the continuation of a national multicultural HIV peer navigation program.

An additional $14.1 million was allocated to continue investment in national HIV peak bodies.

鈥淧eak body funding is the engine room of Australia’s HIV response,鈥� Orr said.

鈥淧eak bodies coordinate programming that allows the community sector to do the partnership work with government, researchers and clinicians that has made Australia a world leader on HIV for four decades. The Albanese Government鈥檚 sustained investment in community-led HIV programming backs that model to keep going.鈥�

鈥淲ith tonight’s Budget, the 2030 goal of virtual elimination of HIV transmission in Australia is genuinely within reach.鈥�

The groups also recognised the government鈥檚 broader international HIV commitments, including $48 million for Pacific HIV responses and $266 million over three years to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

鈥淎ustralia鈥檚 commitment to the Global Fund sends a signal to the world that we are fully committed to supporting the ongoing delivery of programming in developing countries to address global health threats like HIV,鈥� Orr said.

鈥淚n sum, this investment demonstrates the Albanese Government鈥檚 commitment to protecting Australia鈥檚 health security and the health of the family of Pacific Island Countries we belong to.鈥�

Little else for 17c起草社区+ people in 2026-27 federal budget

In , LGBTIQ+ Health Australia had called for additional investment into broader 17c起草社区IA+ health priorities, including gender-affirming healthcare access, mental health services, national suicide prevention initiatives, alcohol and other drug support programs, and stronger funding for 17c起草社区IA+ community-controlled organisations.

This morning, the organisation that the budget contains no dedicated commitments to address urgent 17c起草社区IA+ health and wellbeing needs.

鈥淭his Budget represents a missed opportunity to further translate the commitments of the聽National Action Plan into action,鈥� said Wayne Herbert, Acting Chair of LGBTIQ+ Health Australia鈥檚 Board of Governance.

鈥淲e recognise the current fiscal environment and the competing pressures on government and the investment made more broadly that supports the health and wellbeing of people in Australia. Investment in LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing is not an additional cost, it鈥檚 an investment in the Australian economy.鈥�

鈥淲hen people can access timely, appropriate care, it reduces pressure on crisis services and lowers long鈥憈erm costs across the health and social services systems. Failing to invest in preventive and early intervention services increases this pressure on downstream services.鈥�

2026-27 federal budget ‘fairer for future generations’

This year鈥檚 Federal Budget was dominated by major tax and housing reforms announced by Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

Among the headline measures was the introduction of the new Working Australians Tax Offset (WATO), an ongoing $250 annual tax offset for more than 13 million workers beginning in the 2027鈥�28 financial year. The government also confirmed a new $1,000 instant tax deduction for work-related expenses from 2026鈥�27.

The Budget also unveiled significant changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions, with negative gearing set to be restricted to new residential builds from July 2027.

Chalmers described the Budget as the government鈥檚 鈥渕ost important and ambitious鈥� in decades, saying it aimed to make the tax system 鈥渇airer and stronger for workers, businesses, first home buyers and future generations鈥�.