The NSW government has unveiled an "ambitious" HIV strategy that aims to reduce transmission of the virus among gay men by nearly two thirds within three years.
NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner told an audience of health and community groups in Sydney on Saturday that the 330 new infections reported in the state in 2011 were far too many.
The state would lead the country in driving down new infection rates with its new three-year plan, she said.
"It has ambitious targets, an aspirational target of 60 per cent reduction in transmission in the gay community," she told reporters.
"We know right across the world that you can make tremendous gains by allowing people to be aware of their HIV status earlier and then enabling them to find that and get that treatment much quicker."
The state already spends $73 million annually on HIV education, outreach and support but will now seek extra funds from the federal government.
"We currently have a trial of rapid testing through sexual health centres but with the commonwealth we'd like to extend that out to GPs, and also making available much more rapid access to treatment," Ms Skinner said.
The NSW plan will aim to bring down sexual transmission of HIV among homosexual men by 80 per cent by 2020, and among other populations by 50 per cent.
Other key targets include reducing the average time between infection and diagnosis for people with HIV from 4.5 years to 1.5 years, and increasing the proportion of HIV-positive people on life-saving treatment to 90 per cent.
The strategy has been welcomed by HIV support groups.
Jo Watson, executive director of the National Association of People Living with HIV, hailed the NSW plan as a "landmark".
"It's got impetus, it's got political leadership, as well as bureaucratic leadership and we believe these targets are achievable across the country," she said.
"We've said to the commonwealth that this sort of strategy has all the hallmarks of success ... we want to see all the states and territories get behind this at a national level."
The plan includes the establishment of a Strategic Implementation Committee, to be chaired by Bill Whittaker.
The launch of the HIV strategy coincides with World AIDS Day.
According to UNAIDS, in 2011, there were 34 million people living with HIV across the globe, with Sub-Saharan Africa having nearly one in every 20 adults infected.
Worldwide, 1.7 million people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2011, 24 per cent fewer deaths than in 2005.
HOW HIV HIT NSW - AND HOW THE STATE WILL FIGHT BACK
-16,000 people infected with HIV in NSW in three decades
-7000 HIV/AIDS-related deaths in NSW since 1980s
-Plan to slash HIV transmission among gay men by 60 per cent by 2015 and by 80 per cent by 2020
-NSW to bring HIV infection among heterosexual and Aboriginal populations down by 50 per cent by 2015
-Cut average time between HIV infection and diagnosis from four and a half years to one and a half years
-Lift proportion of HIV-positive people on antiretroviral drugs to 90 per cent by 2015
-Promote condom use, safe injecting and risk reduction among priority populations
-More one-stop HIV testing with results sent via SMS
-Educate to reduce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.
Source: NSW HIV Strategy 2012-2015: A New Era
