Government Acknowledges Zaoui Law Needs Review

Green MP Keith Locke has welcomed the acknowledgement from Minister for Immigration Lianne Dalziel today that there are flaws with the Immigration Act that need addressing.

Ms Dalziel, speaking to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee said she was "very keen" to review the section of the Act that has seen Algerian asylum seeker Ahmed Zaoui denied a summary of the evidence against him, while those designated as terrorists under the Terrorism Suppression Act are sometimes entitled to such a summary.

"It was a positive statement of intent made by the Minister," said Green Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Keith Locke. "Now that the Government has acknowledged the law is flawed, Zaoui should be freed and the Act reviewed - in that order."

Prime Minister Helen Clark has previously said she was "open" to reviewing the Immigration Act.

"While there exist serious reservations about the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Laurie Greig, it is good to know that the Minister who will act on his recommendation has said she is 'fully bound' by human rights commitments."

"Ms Dalziel has the power to lift the security risk certificate at any time, and she should do so immediately. In addition, Parliament needs to review whether we even need the security risk certificate process, or if we should revert to the situation we had before 1999."

ENDS

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