On 13 April 2007, Prime Minister John Howard controversially called for a ban on HIV-positive migrants being granted the right to migrate to Australia.

Howard defended the move as a logical step in the forming of migration policy as the country already forbids the entry of migrants with various communicable diseases.

As part of the change in Australian immigration policy, a $140 million contract has been awarded to a company that will conduct various health tests on potential migrants before they are allowed to set foot on Australia soil. Moreover, Health Services Australia plans to scan 100,000 foreigners currently in Australia per year, if they apply extend their stay or become permanent residents.

Assistant Immigration and Citizenship Minister Teresa Gambo has stated that as well as protecting Australia from the spreading of transmittable diseases, the off-shore health inspections will help to cut the cost of an average visa application by approximately 14%.