Immigration changes skydiving without a parachute

“Information is needed before embarking on any reforms of immigration law, especially an amnesty”, said ACT Immigration spokesman Penny Webster.

Immigration Minister, Lianne Dalziel, has announced changes to immigration policy are to be discussed at Cabinet. Ms Dalziel has admitted the exact number of overstayers in New Zealand is unknown.

“How a meaningful and effective immigration policy can be devised, when even basic information is not collected, is a mystery to me.

“Answers to my Parliamentary Questions reveal that basic statistics like under which category an immigrant gained residence, what city an immigrant settles in, or even the number of immigrants who appear before a New Zealand court, are not collected.

“Lianne Dalziel is to present a paper for Cabinet approval, that is unable to accurately state how many immigrants are in each New Zealand city.

“Helen Clark’s contribution to the debate that Pacific Island overstayers are “in crowded houses, they can’t work because that’s illegal, their kids can’t go to school and they’re living an almost underground life” raises questions, like what are the Government going to do about it?

“This core Labour constituency is receiving a huge disservice from the Government’s flip flopping, as trying to set policy without facts is like skydiving without a parachute.

“New Zealand needs firm immigration laws, based on sound facts, that objectively judge a person on their merits,” said Penny Webster.

ENDS

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