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HIV and the LAW in Australia: National Audit

This is an audit of Australian laws and policies undermining the goals and key areas of action of the National HIV Strategy. This audit deals mainly with three topics, which have a substantial and adverse impact on persons with HIV as well as other marginalised communities and the broader Australian population. These laws: criminalise HIV transmission, exposure and the failure to disclose HIV status to a sexual partner; define consent in a way that exposes people with HIV to criminalisation; and enable Mandatory Disease Testing (MDT) that adversely impacts people with HIV. For each of these topics, this audit: sets out the relevant laws of each state and territory in Australia; notes the key issues in the area; and outlines suggestions on law reform options.