Labour Lacks Commonsense On Immigration

Thursday 28 Oct 2004

Dr Muriel Newman Press Releases - Immigration

ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Immigration Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today demanded to know when the Labour Government would see sense and introduce a limited purposes visa to allow foreign fruit-pickers to work in New Zealand.

"Immigration Minister Paul Swain has today confirmed that plans to revamp Labour's skilled migrant scheme would not include provisions to allow migrant fruit-pickers to work in New Zealand," Dr Newman said.

"The Minister has shown that his Government is turning its back on the New Zealand horticultural sector which, in the past, has relied on migrant workers to fill seasonal labour needs - and which has long called for more enlightened immigration policies.

"Labour has responded to this sector by telling growers to hire backpackers, tourists, students and WINZ clients - despite experience showing that this is far from being a viable option.

"Backpackers, students and WINZ workers often move on before the season ends. Without their migrant workforce - who are skilled in planting, pruning, picking, and who stay for the entire season before returning to their home country - growers are being left with fruit rotting on the trees because there are not enough suitable workers for harvesting.

"To date, the Labour Government has ignored their plight. I am calling on Mr Swain to show some leadership and commonsense by introducing a limited purposes visa for horticulture work. It's time for some real management in immigration," Dr Newman said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

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>>