28 October 2004

New Zealanders Pay For Flawed Refugee Policy

“The front page of today’s Dominion Post graphically illustrates the flawed nature of New Zealand’s refugee policy, says New Zealand First Leader, Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“Here is a sickness beneficiary refugee trying to manipulate the system to bring in 14 of her relatives to bludge off New Zealand taxpayers.

“This clearly highlights the reality that under this politically correct government and its open door immigration policies, one refugee never equals just one refugee – it almost always means ten or fifteen refugees, most of whom go on the welfare system.

“New Zealand First has always supported the annual quota of 750 United Nations verified refugees, but we have always rejected the notion that each refugee can bring in all their relatives.

“If each of 750 refugees brought in 14 relatives, we would be paying welfare for 10,500. This rort has got to stop.

“The irony is that this is somehow meant to be our fault because we changed the rules to stop third world diseases from entering our country.

“If this government has its way, we will welcome them at the airport with big welfare cheques, a state house for life and a photo opportunity with Helen Clark and Ashraf Choudhary,” said Mr Peters.

ENDS

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