Lockwood Smith MP
National Party Immigration Spokesman

22 October 2008

RSE comments out of context

National Party Immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith says he is concerned that statements attributed to him in a Marlborough media report yesterday have been taken out of context.

"My comments, regarding the extent to which employers, under the RSE scheme were being required to provide life skills training to RSE workers, were simply reporting the strong concerns expressed to me by many employers.

“These reported concerns have been expressed in the media previously, and there has been strong advocacy for future changes to the scheme to deal with them.

"Presented in the way they were, I can see that my reported comments may have caused offence. I sincerely regret that because it certainly was not my intention.

"The National Party supports the RSE scheme and wants to see it expanded and improved."

ENDS

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