Rt Hon Winston Peters

New Zealand First Leader

Member of Parliament for Northland
16 AUGUST 2016

PM Attempts to Avoid Questions on Govt’s Poor Visa Scrutiny

Prime Minister John Key deliberately made up statements in Parliament today to avoid evidence that scrutiny of visas is poor under his government, says New Zealand First Leader and Member of Parliament for Northland Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“Under questions from New Zealand First, Mr Key made a bold claim that ‘less’ people are granted visas and then claim asylum after being in New Zealand than under the Labour government of 1999-2008.

“Mr Key emphasised that he knew this because he had been advised by his Minister of Immigration.

“However, in June this year the Minister of Immigration, Michael Woodhouse, told Parliament, again in response to a NZ First question, that there was no data on this prior to 2009.

“This begs the question, why would the PM say Mr Woodhouse gave him advice when Mr Woodhouse knew otherwise.

“It seems that Mr Key is determined to push any blame on the former Labour government in which I was a Minister.

“He deliberately invented an answer, and dobbed in his Minister to mislead and avoid an issue out of control under his watch. His government has approved almost 1600 visas of various categories for non-genuine applicants who claimed refugee status after arrival.

“This makes a mockery of his statement in November last year that there is ‘a proper vetting process’ for refugees.

“Mr Key should return to the House and correct his statement.”

Link to table on numbers:

https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/order-paper-questions/written-questions/document/QWA_08211_2016/8211-2016-rt-hon-winston-peters-to-the-minister-of-immigration

ENDS

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