Chainsmoker, there is only one reason that I have only commented on HIV and Hep C among black African immigrants, these are the only examples that I have heard of. If you know of other races allowed into Australia in the same condition, you should write it in your next post.

I know that where I came from, testing was strict and carried out at place of origin. Fail tests = no visa.

Speaking of our chronically inept immigration department, the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) recently revealed that since 2000-01 more than 100,000 immigrants with tuberculosis had entered Australia.

And here I was foolishly believing immigration was meant to be for the benefit of the people already here.

The Australian reported:

"An audit of the Immigration Department has found that it knowingly allows migrants to enter Australia with serious contagious diseases but frequently fails to check up on whether they have sought medical attention."

It further stated:

"It [the ANAO] was also highly critical of the way the [immigration] department administered and monitored exemptions from the health requirements which have allowed foreigners with diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C and leprosy to enter Australia.

Visa applicants who fail to meet the health requirements can secure an exemption if they sign a "health undertaking" to report to a designated health authority in the relevant state or territory for a follow-up health assessment.

Up to 20,000 undertakings are issued each year - about 90 per cent for people with tuberculosis.

The audit revealed that a quarter of the 5535 health undertakings issued in 2002-03 were non-compliant.

There are no formal arrangements between DIAC and state and territory authorities to check whether people have honoured their commitment to undergo further health checks.

The audit also found that, even when visa-holders were caught breaching their health undertaking, they were still allowed to stay in the country."

Full article:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21750877-421,00.html

So, Australian taxpayers are not only servicing diseaded migrants, but also having their own health endangered in the process. The lucky country indeed.