Howard - Rule 7, No HIV Sufferers (Same as Rule 1 Really)

By Cernig

Yesterday it was Tony Blair revealing his true self, today it is the turn of Australia's conservative PM, John Howard.

Australia should refuse to allow migrants or refugees with HIV to enter the country, Prime Minister John Howard has said.
Mr Howard said there may be special cases when an exemption could be considered but as a rule HIV-positive people should be denied entry.

Mr Howard was asked about the issue during a visit to Victoria state, which has seen a sharp rise in HIV cases.

Any ban for migrants with HIV/Aids would need a change in the federal law.

Mr Howard, on a visit to Melbourne, told a local radio station he wanted to seek more advice on the issue, but said his gut feeling was that HIV sufferers should not be allowed in to the country.

Howard then went on to attempt to justify his stance by comparing it with the existing ban on those infected with TB. However, that parallel was quickly shot down.

Solicitor David Puls of the New South Wales HIV/Aids Legal Centre said the law allowed immigrants to be denied access where there are public safety concerns.

"The Medical Officer of the Commonwealth does not consider HIV to be a public safety concern," he was quoted by the Australian newspaper as saying.

He added that HIV should not be compared with tuberculosis as the latter is airborne and contagious, while HIV is transmissible but not contagious.

Howard seems to be on a one-man crusade to show the world that Aussie conservatives can be just as pig-headedly bigoted and belligerent as any extremist American or British rightwinger. When he retires, there's a ready made position for him in the philosophy department of the University of Woolloomooloo.

Everybruce: Australia, Australia, Australia, Australia, we love you amen!
Bruce: Another two! (Bottles opening)
Bruce: Any questions?
Bruce: New-Bruce, are you a Poofter?
Bruce: Are you a Poofter?
New-Bruce: No!
Bruce: No. Right, I just want to remind you of the faculty rules:
Rule One! (Everybruce) No Poofters!
Rule Two, no member of the faculty is to maltreat the Abbos in any
way at all -- if there's anybody watching.
Rule Three? (Everybruce) No Poofters!!
Rule Four, now this term, I don't want to catch anybody not drinking.
Rule Five, (Everybruce) No Poofters!
Rule Six, there is NO ... Rule Six.
Rule Seven, (Everybruce) No Poofters!!
Right, that concludes the readin' of the rules, Bruce.