Sandra Goudie MP National Party Internal Affairs Spokeswoman

22 November 2005

Barker's explanation for e-passport cost a scandal

National's Internal Affairs spokeswoman, Sandra Goudie, says Internal Affairs Minister Rick Barker's explanation for the hugely increased revenue from new e-passports is a scandal. Mr Barker said on Radio Live regarding the new passport that 'it's people's perception of its beauty and its quality and its integrity. We pay for lots of things that have intangible value'.

"Does Mr Barker believe New Zealanders view the new passport as being so 'beautiful' and its value so 'intangible' that they are happy to pay twice as much for it?

"Mr Barker's suggestion in Parliament that New Zealand's passport is cheaper than Australia's completely fails to recognise the fact that our passport now has a life of only five years, whereas Australia's is still ten.

"Perhaps Mr Barker should clarify that fact when he tries to pass off this new passport as being comparatively cheap," says Ms Goudie.

ENDS

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