Importing diseases
It took some time to extract this information, one has to send repeated Emails.
As you can see AIDs can still be brought into the country by people under 15 years of age. No mention is made of the fact that screening did not commence until the late 1980s after years of lobbying the
government.
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Australian Government
Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
PO Box 25
BELCONNEN ACT 2616
Mr Nick Maine JP
Dear Mr Maine
Thank you for your email message of 10 December 2006 to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Andrew Robb AO MP, concerning visaed arrivals from Africa and the age of commencement of screening for medical
conditions, including HIV. Mr Robb has asked that I reply on his behalf.
All applicants for visas for Australia are required to meet strict eligibility criteria contained in Australia’s migration legislation, the Migration Act 1958 and the Migration Regulations 1994. The department views the protection of public health as a high priority,
and has one of the most stringent health screening processes in the world. No public health condition, with the exception of tuberculosis, automatically precludes the grant of a visa.
For permanent entry to Australia, including applications for Refugee and Humanitarian visas from Africa, require applicants to undergo a radiological examination (if aged 11 years or older) and a full medical examination, regardless of age. In addition,
those aged 15 years or older are screened for HIV/AIDS. Children under 15 years old are also tested if there is reason to suspect HIV infection (for example, a history of blood transfusions or haemophilia) or they are an unaccompanied
humanitarian minor.
HIV, like some other conditions, is assessed for its impact on the Australian community in terms of its treatment costs. Where a particular medical condition is assessed as requiring significant treatment costs, refusal of the visa can occur on grounds of failing to
meet the health requirement.
A waiver of the refusal on health grounds can apply to some visa categories including Refugee and Humanitarian visas. Cases are assessed individually on a case by case basis, considering any compassionate, compelling and other
circumstances.
I appreciate you raising this matter.
Yours sincerely
Glenn Paterson
Director Health
Policy Section Temporary Entry Branch
12 January 2007
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