Australia has made a major new commitment to combat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in the Asia-Pacific region, and to assist sufferers of the diseases.
The new pledge to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is a specific allocation under the government's existing 1 billion dollar commitment to the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
It will be funded from future increases in overseas aid announced in the 2007-08 budget.
The Australian government has pledged 93 million dollars over two years from 2008-09 to the Global Fund, building on the 42 million already committed this year.
The new commitment follows Australia's previous four-year pledge of 75 million which was completed this year.
