Australia's PM Discourages HIV Positive Immigrants

A radio interviewer in Melbourne, Australia, the capital of Victoria state, asked Prime Minister John Howard whether migrants or immigrants with HIV should be allowed into Australia. Howard replied that he would need more time to think about the issue but that his immediate response was no. The statement followed questions regarding the rigidity of immigrant HIV testing policies.

"I think we should have the most stringent possible conditions in relation to that nationwide, and I know the health minister is concerned about that and is examining ways of tightening things up," Howard said. He did however add that under special circumstances HIV positive immigrants should be allowed.

Howard is known for having increased immigration restrictions since becoming Prime Minister ten years ago.

The statement drew fire from HIV-AIDS workers who describe Howard as a xenophobe. According to Don Baxter of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organizations, a non-government agency, potential immigrants are already given HIV tests. Those who test positive are usually rejected on the grounds that they will raise costs in the public health system.

Infectious disease expert Chris Lemoh, who is working with HIV positive African immigrants in Australia, had this to say about Howard's statement: "It's a hysterical overreaction, it mixes racism with a phobia about infectious disease," he said. "To not allow people to come on the basis of any health condition is immoral, it's unethical and it's impractical to enforce."

Earlier this week Victoria's state health minister said that of over 300 new HIV cases reported in 2006 in Victoria, 70 were immigrants who already had the virus when they arrived. Nationwide Australia's number of HIV positive cases have risen by over 40 percent since 2000.

Australia also restricts immigration of persons suffering from tuberculosis. Solicitor David Puls of the New South Wales HIV/Aids Legal Centre said that HIV and tuberculosis should not be compared as public health concerns, as tuberculosis is an airborne infectious disease while HIV is not.