Hon. Tony Ryall MP National Immigration spokesman

27 October 2004

More evidence of botched skilled migrant policy

Changes to the Skilled Migrant Category, announced today, are a further admission that the Government's handling of immigration has left New Zealand stranded without enough skilled migrants wanting to come here, says National's Immigration spokesman, Tony Ryall.

"The chaotic introduction of the new points scheme saw New Zealand lose substantial credibility overseas," he says.

"National told the Government six months ago that their chopping and changing would cut skilled immigration, and it has. And it will take more than a swept-up advertising campaign to repair the damage."

Mr Ryall says applications by skilled applicants must be processed faster.

"Bizarrely, under Minister Paul Swain it is easier to get an unskilled relative into New Zealand than it is a skilled migrant with a job."

He says the Government also needs to change its attitude toward agriculture.

"This is an industry that requires many skills and experiences that the Government's scheme does not recognise.

"An advertising campaign will not be the be-all and end-all of our country's problems. Strong domestic policies are also needed to attract quality immigrants.

"We need lower taxes, safe streets, and good schools and hospitals. National will do more to encourage those on welfare into work.

"Sadly, the Government is not addressing any of these issues," Mr Ryall says.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>