The NAC and the National AIDS Council Secretariat is established under section 3 sub section 1 of the National AIDS Council Act (NAC Act), 1997.
Under the NAC Act the Objects of the Council (in accordance with the PNG Constitution and the Global Strategy on AIDS) are:

• to take multi Sectoral approaches with a view to prevent, control and to eliminate transmission of HIV in PNG; and
• to organize measures to minimize the personal, social and economic impact of HIV infection and the disease of AIDS; and
• to ensure, as far as is possible, that personal privacy, dignity and integrity are maintained in the face of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in PNG