04/13/2007
Australian PM John Howard Wants Ban on HIV-Positive Immigrants
Reacting to newly released Victorian health department figures that showed the number of HIV-positive people moving to that state had quadrupled in two years, Prime Minister John Howard told an Australian radio show:
"My initial reaction is no [HIV-positive people should not be allowed in]. There may be some humanitarian considerations that could temper that in certain cases but prima facie – no...I think we should have the most stringent possible conditions in relation to that nationwide..."
According to Australian site Same Same, it's "just the latest in a series of regressive moves" from Howard: "HIV legal campaigners have this afternoon said that Howard should be investigated for discriminating against people with the virus...Current Australian immigration rules require permanent residents to have a HIV test, but a positive result does not mean that a person’s visa would be denied."
John Howard: HIV Not Welcome in Australia [same same]
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Posted 12:05 PM EST by Andy Towle in AIDS/HIV, Australia, John Howard, News | Permalink
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I knew Howard was a bit of a d-bag, but not a total sicko d-bag like this. This sounds like a post-apocolyptic sci-fi movie or something.
Posted by: scientitian | Apr 13, 2007 12:24:26 PM
John Howard is such a moron that calling him 'the George W. Bush of Australia' is almost an insult to George W. Bush. This announcement from him should surprise no one.
Posted by: peterparker | Apr 13, 2007 12:30:13 PM
isn't that similar to the US policy ?
Posted by: A.J. | Apr 13, 2007 12:35:39 PM
Yes, A.J., it is sadly similar to U.S. policy.
Posted by: peterparker | Apr 13, 2007 12:53:58 PM
how bout a ban on ignorant white old fools! and yes it's about time to impeach bush.
Posted by: vince | Apr 13, 2007 12:56:27 PM
I've always felt there were many similarities between the U.S. and Australia. I now see Fascism is the latest trait we have in common.
Posted by: mark m | Apr 13, 2007 2:22:55 PM
They just don't want to pay for treating AIDS, which is very expensive.
Posted by: anon | Apr 13, 2007 4:08:23 PM
Hey Anon, is Howard advocating screening potential immigrants for high cholesterol, genes for breast cancer, and for obese people? Many of these people also will have from expensive medical conditions. Howard is just another vile politician.
Posted by: homer | Apr 13, 2007 5:10:35 PM
This is preposterous. There is no published evidence that definitely establishes HIV as a direct cause of AIDS, or that AIDS is an infectious disease. (see Peter Duesberg's 'Inventing the AIDS Virus')
Posted by: Ambrose | Apr 13, 2007 10:12:47 PM
"is Howard advocating screening potential immigrants for high cholesterol, genes for breast cancer, and for obese people?"
Countries have the rights to screen people coming into their countries for a variety of things. The only difference between AIDS and what you've mentioned above is that you can't "catch" any of those things from someone else. Think rationally. Why would you want people with a deadly disease coming into your country who have the presumed ability to transmit that disease to others, which most likely, the cost will mainly fall on the government. It sounds like Howard is trying, in his own way, to curb the spread of AIDS in Australia. it might be tough, but in the long run it sounds more compassionate to me.
Posted by: Chris | Apr 14, 2007 12:32:46 AM
Chris,
If HIV were transmitted through the air (as in the case of TB or influenza) or by casual contact such as kissing, sharing utensils, touching a doorknob that had been touched by someone with HIV, etc... then John Howard's stance would make total sense.
As it is, the vast majority of cases of HIV are spread through unprotected sex or sharing needles. A very small minority of cases occur during childbirth or through needlestick injuries. In other words, people who are HIV negative can easily avoid infection with HIV by taking such simple, common sense measures such as practicing abstinence, using condoms during sex, having unsafe sex only within the context of a monogamous relationship with someone who is also HIV negative, and/or avoiding sharing needles.
Regarding barring people with HIV from entering countries, it is worth noting that the U.S. has a higher prevalence rate of adults living with HIV/AIDS (.6%) than does Australia (.1%) despite the fact that U.S. laws regarding HIV positive people entering the country (even for a short visit) are far stricter than Australian immigration/visitation laws. Instead of attempting the impossible task of keeping HIV positive people from entering their borders the Australian government has focused on promoting negotiated safer sex prevention programs. They've been successful. In fact, the Australians have been so successful with these prevention programs that HIV/AIDS organizations all over the world have begun to model their prevention programs on those of the Australian government.
John Howard's statements regarding barring people with HIV from entering Australia represent nothing more than unrealistic fears of HIV and, probably, homophobia. Unfortunately, your statements are not much more enlightened than Howard's.
xo,
peterparker
Posted by: peterparker | Apr 14, 2007 2:49:53 AM
What else can you expect from John Howard.He is an intolerant,ignorant old man who needs to be resigned to the pages of history.He will be gone at the next election and hopefully Australia can again be represented by moderates who are not puppets of the extreme right.HIV doesn't discriminate...people and governments do!!
Posted by: James Sullivan | Apr 14, 2007 3:18:38 AM
in the majority of cases we don't allow people into australia if their life-time health care costs, for any condition, exceed a certian monetary limit (not sure what that is off the top of my head). our public health care system is stretched at the best of times.
make hiv cheaper to treat and the door is open.
the media likes to miss these little points in favor of hyped up story. and unfortunately it looks like the gay community likes to keep their blinders on.
Posted by: matt.s | Apr 14, 2007 10:44:40 PM
They just don't want to pay for treating AIDS, which is very expensive
Absolutely. Australia's only obligation is to care for its own AIDS sufferers, not to act as a global AIDS charity.
There is no published evidence that definitely establishes HIV as a direct cause of AIDS, or that AIDS is an infectious disease
It is ignorant attitudes like this, that has lead to the widespread distribution of AIDS in South Africa, who's President (Mbeki) still clings to this scientifically incorrect and morally bankrupt argument.
Posted by: pommygranate | Apr 15, 2007 7:59:03 PM
Howard is such a prick, this is just another way for him to turn back the clock on multiculturalism and to stop anyone who isn't white, rich and straight from coming to Australia. He has to go.
Posted by: Josh Mason | Apr 15, 2007 9:15:12 PM