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======Howard calls for HIV immigration ban======
We interrupt your scheduled break from any miscellaneous copyright and technology law related ramblings, to bring you this ridiculous piece of federal government policy. Luckily, it appears to be in its infancy. Lets stop this before it goes too far.

There's not many other ways to say this. It is plainly wrong for Australia to make HIV/AIDS a deciding factor in immigration policy.

Howard on the radio today says that his "initial reaction" is that prima facie, people who are HIV positive should not have their migration applications granted. The full story is at [[http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200704/s1896267.htm|ABC News Online]].

We currently require potential migrants to undergo a fairly comprehensive medical examine, and scan for a number of things, including TB and HIV/AIDS. The policy states that "Evidence of active or previous TB will not, in itself, adversely impact on the outcome of the visa application." As for HIV/AIDS, the policy states "If the applicant is found to be HIV positive, a decision on whether the applicant meets the health requirement will be made on the same grounds as any other pre-existing medical condition. The main factor to be taken into account is the cost of the condition to the Australian community of health care and community services. Standard pre and post-test counselling must be provided by the doctor who examined the applicant." (From the Department of Immigration [[http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/22health.htm|Fact Sheet 22]]).

What Howard is suggesting is that we change current policy to impose a prima facie ban on potential immigrants who have HIV/AIDS. This is unjustifiable.

People with HIV/AIDS have suffered a large amount of discrimination over the last 20-30 years. The availability of pharmaceutical treatments in Australia are quite good, and the virus can be much more effectively controlled than before. Basing immigration policy on whether or not someone has HIV/AIDS seems frankly ridiculous and harmful. People with HIV/AIDS need access to medication, and the general community needs education on safe sex, available condoms, and needle exchange programs. What we don't need is to further create a barrier to entry based solely upon whether someone is carrying a controllable virus.

Australia's migration policy has already seen some quite unjustifiable excesses in the last ten years. I thought they culminated late last year, when we saw a backbench revolt when the Federal Government tried to excise the remainder of sea landings from the migration zone, neatly sidestepping international obligations and judicial review processes. This latest example simply goes to far.

Lets hope that this ill-conceived plan goes no further.
~~DISCUSSION:closed~~