17 April 2002

Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel leaves for Darwin, Australia tomorrow to attend the New Zealand/Australia Ministerial Council meeting on Immigration.

Lianne Dalziel will brief the Council on New Zealand’s Immigration Programme, which came into effect last year.

“This is an exciting opportunity for New Zealand to showcase an innovative immigration programme which allows business and skilled migration to drive our residency approvals. And while we facilitate business and skilled migration as a way of assisting innovation and growth within the New Zealand economy, this has not been at the expense of our commitment to family reunion and humanitarian issues,” she said.

Lianne Dalziel will also follow up on the recent Regional Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Organised Crime, held in Bali in February, which she attended with Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff.

“At the Bali conference we highlighted how quick determination of refugee status applications assisted with quick resettlement of claimants granted refugee status, and the quicker removal of declined claimants,” Lianne Dalziel said.

“The Council meeting in Darwin will be a valuable opportunity to discuss immigration and settlement policies with our Australian counterparts.”

The Council will also discuss general issues around immigration, settlement, citizenship, multicultural affairs, and research.

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