NAPWA President Robert Mitchell has called for clarification from the Federal Government of media reports on plans to require HIV tests for people coming into Australia under the proposed Pacific Islander guest worker scheme.

‘Australia does not currently have restrictions on short-term travel by people with HIV, including for numerous visa categories with permission to work,’ said Mitchell. ‘The suggestion that people applying for guest worker visas should be treated less favourably, just because they come from the Pacific, is deeply troubling. This would be a backward step for Australia and would tarnish Australia’s reputation as a country with an enlightened attitude to HIV.’