If immigrants are subject to health checks so that there is no undue burden placed upon the Australian public, why are African Refugees being assisted to settle here with HIV and AIDS.



When this revelation first hit the muck raking seedy end of the rumour mill, I for one, thought that it was totally untrue. How could the government not do health checks and weed out those with these potentially life threatening and epidemic spreading diseases. Further more how could we, the Australian people not be informed that this was happening.

I sympathize with these people and have heard many of their horrific stories of hardship, death, fighting, enslavement etc, but am at a loss to order my emotions regarding this situation.



Comments Please

Christine

I too am at loss to understand the bureaucracy surrounding the immigration process.

I have a white Zimbabwean friend who's been in Australia for 20 years but unable to bring her ailing mother here. She does not have any contagious diseases.

I'm also at a loss as to why we are being force-fed "fresh" produce grown or manufactured in China, where the product has been treated with organo-chlorines (and God knows what else!). Australia banned these hazards from use some 30 years ago.

In the US,China's export fish is under scrutiny, contaminated with all sorts of chemicals including formaldehyde.

Then there's the Chinaman who was apprehended manufacturing lard with sewerage.

Thousands of dogs and cats died in Canada after being fed pet food manufactured in China.

Recent cases of tuberculosis have emerged in WA.

Is this what one calls "free" trade under the guise of altruism?

It's an Australian bureauracracy gone mad and will cost our already ailing health system big time!

Dickie, one reason we are subjected to such chemical cocktails from China is our dependance on their custom for our resources.

The more economies are intertwined, the more 'rough stuff' the more dependant one will have to accomodate to keep feathers from being ruffled in the other party.

This is the sad and sick nature of international politics. You can well imagine the discussions behind closed doors between trade ministers.

Australia2China "We regret that we have to increase the price of our iron ore this quarter"

China2Australia "Ok.. we understand that, but hey, how about giving us access for our vegies and other this's and that's"?

Australia2China "Sure.. we can manage that"

And so it goes.

Politicians in democratic countries are people who have networks of interested parties. They are quite happy to sacrifice one industry segment for the sake of another, simply because it benefits those they are connected to. The public face of this or course is euphemistically described as "National Interest". How often have you heard THAT ? :)

CHRISTINE. On refugees etc, the difficult part is knowing how to structure policy such that it remains managable. If we opened our doors to all who 'would' come here, it won't be long before we are all dragged down to a great mess. Not to mention run out of water.

In summary I think no matter where the government draws that line, they will be praised by some and pillaried by others (too far)(Not far enough) etc.
Goes with the territory of being a government I guess.
cheers

Thanks for that Boaz.

Not being au fait with the economics of the world, I must ask, "What are the G8 countries doing about this dilemma?"

Surely they would have some influence in demanding certain standards from developing countries, prior to any trade or immigration arrangements?

Or has Australia and other G8 members simply become the sycophants of the new world order?

Christine, all migrants are subject to heath and charcter checks before they are granted visas. Health checks include tests for TB and hiv. However, some prior conditions, possibly tropical infections, such as Maleria, may not be detected overseas but get detected here when symptoms become apparent.

A migrant with hiv is not normally admitted to Australia, but an hiv waiver can be granted by the immigration case officer if the applicant can prove their good character and ability to work, pay taxes (covering the cost of their medication) and live a responsible lifestyle that does not put the lives of others at risk.

A blood borne infection, such as hiv, suitably treated with antivirals often reduces the vial presence to undectable levels in the blood. In other words, migrants who enter Australia under an hiv waiver are usually very low risk indeed.

Similar concessions are extended to Australians living with hiv and working in other countries. The biggest problem associated with the sensational and distorted coverage by our shock jocks and media TV celebrities. They pitch a story building fear and outrage. Sadly, they are usually successful in obtaining the program's knee jerk responses from State Health Ministers. Their policy responses usually stigmatise all people living with hiv and provoke racist attacks by supremacists against African refugees in particular. I recently heard a City Rail passenger of African ancestory being taunted 'a disease carrying nigger' just after this story broke.

Our media commentators do not seek balanced views and they undo years of work building trust and effective infection control in the community. At worst they risk sending patients underground, untested, unreported and living in fear of disclosure to their doctors, family and friends. It's these very conditions that has lead to the world's worst outbreaks of any infectious disease.

The Australian Medical Association have taken an ethical and sound policy position on this issue realising that public health issues should be dealt with according to tried and proven strategies

I have a close relative who works in the Health system and has daily contact with these African immigrants. Many have HIV and Hep C yet are allowed in the country, while White immigrants are refused entry for the same.

Quick response seems to imply that it is racist to complain of AIDS-ridden Africans being allowed amongst us. Isn't it racist to allow them in, but not the White HIV carriers? Oh, I forgot, it's only racism if applied to coloureds. Any injustice to Whites is not racist but probably deserved.

It's bad enough that irresponsible policies are allowing these ticking time bombs to walk amongst us, but what about the drain that they will cause to our already overloaded health care system?