Hon. Tony Ryall MP - National Immigration spokesman

4 August 2005

Labour ignores immigrant residency scam

Labour is turning a blind eye to a residency scam in which unscrupulous people are using job offers to get into New Zealand and then quitting once they get here, says National's Immigration spokesman, Tony Ryall.

"Labour is presiding over large-scale abuse of our immigration system. Some people are being granted permanent residence and then absconding from jobs, going on benefits, and committing crime.

Mr Ryall is commenting after reports that a Northland company took part in a direct overseas recruitment campaign organised by the Labour Department, only to find that within weeks of arriving, eight of the 20 migrants employed left the company without notice.

"Permanent residence gives migrants virtually all the advantages and rights of New Zealand citizenship. The privilege of New Zealand residence and citizenship needs to be protected. That privilege should be earned.

"In the past year [1] only eight immigrants had their residence permit revoked. The Labour Government is not enforcing its own conditions.

"Permanent residence should be earned. We should be expecting a demonstrated commitment to New Zealand and our laws. Anyone breaching those laws should be summarily deported.

"We must also protect new immigrant communities from criminals and fraudsters who give them a bad name and engender hostility," Mr Ryall says.

[1] Up to 31 May 2005 Written Question 7562

ENDS

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