From AAP:

Hanson racist, says PNG opposition
June 14, 2007

SENATE candidate Pauline Hanson has inflamed tensions with Papua New Guinea after suggesting thousands of its nationals are bringing HIV and tuberculosis into north Queensland.

The former One Nation leader said once the migrants disembark from their motorised canoes they hit the shops in Queensland’s regional cities.

“The Howard Government is putting all Australians at risk by allowing thousands of seriously-ill PNG citizens to enter Australia virtually at will under the Torres Strait Treaty of 1985,� Ms Hanson said.

Tonight PNG’s political opposition hit back, declaring Ms Hanson a “racistâ€?.

“It is a racist comment by a racist person and that we in this country are disappointed,â€? opposition leader Peter O’Neil told the ABC.

PNG Community Development Minister Dame Carol Kidu said Ms Hanson was ill-informed.

“Pauline Hanson should come up and visit Papua New Guinea some time and I’d be very willing to have her and take her around and discuss some of the very deep issues that we’re trying to address in Papua New Guinea,â€? she said.

Attempts to contact Ms Hanson through her Queensland campaign office this evening were unsuccessful.