5. Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH (National—Rodney) Link to this
to the Minister of Immigration
Is it correct that the applications for work visas by Mr Sunan Siriwan and his partner Ms Aumporn Phanngarm have been declined; if so, what were the reasons for declining their applications?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Immigration) Link to this
Yes. They were declined because the immigration officer processing them did not consider that they should be approved.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Can the Minister confirm that he told this House on 26 July that once the former Associate Minister of Immigration, Damien O’Connor, realised that Sunan Siriwan was working for Taito Phillip Field and staying in his house in Samoa, the Associate Minister acted to reverse his decision of 23 June 2005 to issue work visas for Mr Siriwan and Ms Phanngarm?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
Yes, by placing a flag in the department’s client management system requiring the referral of the case back to the Associate Minister.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Why, if Damien O’Connor acted to reverse his decision of 23 June 2005 to grant Mr Siriwan and Ms Phanngarm work visas, did the manager, operational support, of the Department of Labour write on 31 October this year that “in the absence of any subsequent direction from the Minister of Immigration or his Associate Minister” I consider this ministerial direction for work visas to have expired?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
The Associate Minister and the Minister were consulted on the question of whether the department should take the decision, which it did.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Why, if Mr O’Connor did reverse his decision of 23 June, did the Immigration Service decline the applications by Mr Siriwan and Ms Phanngarm because their 6-month eligibility period had expired, and not because the ministerial direction granting them work visas had been reversed?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
No ministerial direction or instruction was given on the substantive handling of Mr Siriwan’s or Ms Phanngarm’s applications. The applications were considered quite properly by a senior immigration officer and tested in accordance with normal immigration procedures.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Why, if Mr O’Connor did reverse his decision of 23 June 2005, is senior management at the Department of Labour unaware of any action taken by the Minister or the Associate Minister subsequent to 23 June to reverse that decision—or did the manager, operational support, not tell the truth to the solicitors for Mr Siriwan and Ms Phanngarm when he wrote to them on 31 October 2006 with his decision?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
If the member is quoting from a letter from the department provided to him, I suggest the member table that letter in just the same way that I would have to if, as Minister, I was quoting from it.
Madam SPEAKERHon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
The department has quite properly considered this matter on the basis of normal immigration procedures and processes, and has made a decision.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
I seek leave to table the letter of the manager, operational support, of the Department of Labour to Mr Siriwan’s and Ms Phanngarm’s solicitor declining their applications and not mentioning any reversal of a decision by the former Associate Minister.