Victoria's Multicultural Affairs Minister, John Pandazopoulos, has distanced himself from comments by a fellow Labor minister on African refugees.
The New South Wales health minister, John Hatzistergos has been campaigning for more federal funding of refugee health services.
He says some refugees to Australia including many Africans are entering the country with infectious diseases such as malaria which need treatment.
Speaking at the start of Cultural Diversity Week, Mr Pandazopoulos said he did not think his colleague's comments were inflammatory.
But he does think there's a better way to approach the issue.
"We have similar issues but don't go as public about it, as I guess New South Wales does."
He says; "All our language needs to be tempered, and any comments that can be misconstrued can be used not only by white supremacist groups, of which there are many in Australia, but also anti-immigration groups. "