The Government should be committed to stopping illegal immigrants from entering the country rather than fining employers for unknowingly hiring them, ACT Immigration Spokesman MP Penny Webster said today.

"Fining employers $10,000 for unknowingly hiring illegal immigrants is passing the buck. The Government has a duty to protect our borders.

"Speculation that illegal immigrants are now looking to New Zealand is not surprising considering the Government's approach to Tampa refugees and Helen Clark's announcement of taking refugee quotas from Indonesia. The message has gone out: New Zealand is a soft touch. People smugglers make huge money, everyone else loses. And now, employers who innocently take people on are going to become unofficial immigration officers and law enforcers.

"Australia has had no new boatloads of illegal immigrants this year. Their hard line approach is working.

"Today's announcement does nothing to deter illegal immigrants from entering our country. Instead, they promise to punish business owners for this Government's lax protection of our security," Mrs Webster said.

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