Migration inquiry – call for reform

Australia’s Joint Standing Committee on Migration is inquiring into the Migration Treatment of Disability. Numerous submissions have been made to the Inquiry (available at http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/mig/disability/subs.htm) and public hearings have been held around the country.

AFAO’s submission to the Inquiry proposed to the Inquiry that the Health Requirement be withdrawn. In AFAO’s view, the Health Requirement policies operate to entrench the stigmatisation of people living with HIV, and are contrary to the Australia’s rhetoric regarding international human rights obligations.

If no other reforms emerge from this Inquiry, at the very least refugees should be exempt from any Health Requirement, with HIV testing of off-shore refugees only taking place after a person has been granted Australian residence and has arrived in Australia.

Read more in HIV Australia.

Advertisement