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The Hon. Dr A. CHESTERFIELD-EVANS: My question is directed to the Treasurer, representing the Minister for Health. Given that the mode of transmission of AIDS is the same as for hepatitis C and that the report of the Standing Committee on Social Issues entitled "Hepatitis C: The Neglected Epidemic" has been totally neglected for two years, does the Minister concede that the neglect of that report has brought about the current AIDS situation in prisons? I ask the Minister whether the Government will move on this, in particular recommendation 122, which states:
That the NSW Intersectorial Advisory Committee for Hepatitis C proposed in Recommendation 105 investigate and report on the appropriateness of introducing a needle and syringe exchange program, modelled on the successful European trials, into the State's correctional system and, if necessary, develop guidelines for the program's implementation.
The Hon. M. R. EGAN: I will refer the Hon. Dr A. Chesterfield-Evans' question to my colleague and obtain a response.