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Leader's LetterSeptember 2003
New Zealand First and NZ Council of Trade Union Views on Immigration SimilarPersonal Comment - Dail Jones MP It is interesting that the views of New Zealand First on immigration and the views of those of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions on immigration matters are similar. This is possibly because we are both concerned about the wellbeing of the workers of New Zealand and the need to train and improve the skills of our own people. The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions’ submission to the select committee on the Immigration Amendment Bill indicated that they were “less persuaded that much higher levels of migration should be seen as the main policy instrument to ensure adequate labour supply in the future.” The Council of Trade Unions also believes that the issues of long term labour supply are intricately linked to education and skill development, fertility, economic development including workforce development, innovation, technology diffusion, wages and conditions and so forth. It indicated that it would only support the Bill subject to the principles enunciated by it made in relation to immigration policy. This is as good as saying that they do not actually support the bill but because they support the Labour Party they will go along having expressed their effective disapproval of the Immigration Bill, in my view. As you know our policy is that priority should be given only to immigrants who have the skills and qualifications necessary to further regional economic and social goals. We should not have an infusion of overseas skills and expertise while we fail to train our own. The Labour Party’s policy still remains linked to issuing residents and work permits for an excess of 45,000 per annum and when you take into account student visas of about 75,000 per annum and additional visas for short term residency we have the potential for an artificial population explosion. A University of Waikato study has indicated that approximately 190,000 people come to New Zealand on this basis per annum. Many of the subsequent residents applications to stay in New Zealand are made by people who have come here on student visas and short term visas. The Minister of Immigration failed to speak on the second reading of the Immigration Amendment Bill and if she is not willing to support her own legislation, it is no surprise that we believe that she is an incompetent minister who has no control over immigration to New Zealand and is creating a terrible problem for the future. Incidentally the legislation was condemned by the Auckland District Law Society on the basis that the system could not be trusted, it could be used in a discriminatory or racist manner and could be open to corruption. No - this is not a New Zealand First statement - this is the view of the Auckland District Law Society. Another lawyer submitter drew a comparison between the immigration legislation and the apartheid legislation in South Africa. Incidentally the Business Roundtable supports the legislation, which is not surprising because of the many thousands of low paid workers coming to New Zealand under the Labour Party’s low wage policy. The bill is a dreadful piece of legislation and we will do all we can to oppose it vigorously in Parliament. United Future is the only other party which supports this bill. Dail Jones MP
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