Papua New Guinea term Australia's Hanson's comment as descriminating

There has been an angry reaction in Papua New Guinea to comments made by Australia's Pauline Hanson.

Ms Hanson founded the One Nation political party 11 years ago and in her maiden speech to parliament divided the nation with her comments that Australia was in danger of being swamped by Asians.

Ms Hanson has now accused the Australian government of putting Australians at risk by allowing Papua New Guineans infected with HIV/AIDS and TB into the country.

Our correspondent in PNG, Steve Marshall, says Ms Hanson has called for an overhaul of the 1985 Torres Strait Treaty which allows free movement for traditional people between Australia and PNG.

PNG opposition leader, Peter O'Neill, says Ms Hanson is racist.

"It is a racist comment by a racist person and that we in this country are disappointed," he said.

Minister for Community Development Dame Carol Kidu says the former One Nation leader is ill-informed.

"Pauline Hanson should come up and visit Papua New Guinea," she said.

"I'd be very willing to have her and take her around and discuss some of the very issues that we are trying to address in Papua New Guinea."

HIV and TB are among PNG's biggest killers.

Source: Radio Australia