Media Release

20 November 2002

Government Avoids Gay Immigration Questions

New Zealand First wants to know why the Government has shut down question time in Parliament for the rest of this week.

Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters said it appeared that the Government could not cope with immigration questions that it could not find answers to.

“In their scrambling haste to avoid further embarrassment, Labour is shutting down debate on this crucial issue.

“Abandoning question time is a blow to democracy and we cannot understand why the Government’s new doormat allies tolerate it.”

Mr Peters said that after being approached by a member of the gay community, he had intended to raise questions today about the number of people coming into the country under the “homosexual family member” category.

“We were surprised that such a category existed and wondered how many people were approved in the past year on this basis.

“How do immigration officials check the veracity of applicants under this nonsensical classification?

“Surely we should select people on their ability to contribute to New Zealand in some way – not on their sexual orientation, which is nobody’s business but their own,” said Mr Peters.

ENDS

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