HIV/AIDS fear over immigrants in Australia

Kim MacDonald:

The hundreds of skilled migrants moving to WA each week on temporary work visas are not being screened for deadly illnesses including HIV, although many come from AIDS hotspots in Asia and Africa.

The revelation has sparked a call from the Public Health Association of Australia for compulsory HIV testing of the migrant workers and their families to prevent victims unwittingly passing on the virus after arriving in Australia.

Executive director Pieta Laut said testing would help victims better manage their illness during their stay of up to four years and help maintain national public health standards.

India and southern Africa, the second and fourth biggest pools of temporary skilled migrants to Australia, have the highest number of HIV sufferers in the world.

Immigration Department figures show that from July to December last year, 204 skilled migrants entered WA on temporary work visas each week.

They are allowed to bring their families with them, meaning the total number of arrivals could be as many as 1000 a week.

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