3. Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH (National—Rodney) Link to this
to the Minister of Immigration
How many failed refugee claimants, or failed asylum seekers, had immigration decisions reversed through visas or permits being approved by the Hon Damien O’Connor in response to representations from Taito Phillip Field?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Immigration) Link to this
Although I do not have precise data for the exact dates in question, I am advised that from 15 August 2002 until 31 March 2005, 458 ministerial appeals were made by Taito Phillip Field. Of these, 28 related to refugee status claimants, of which some 10 were granted some form of intervention by the then Associate Minister of Immigration. Only one of those was directly related to residence.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Why did the Minister tell Parliament on 23 November last year that the concerns raised with the former Minister of Immigration by the Department of Labour’s workforce deputy secretary, Mary Anne Thompson, “related to advocacy not decision making”, when Mary Anne Thompson stated publicly on 16 November last year that “The concern there was not only just about the applications Mr Field was making but the number of decisions reversing the department’s decisions”—the decision making of the Associate Minister, Damien O’Connor?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
In the first place, it was because that was the subject of the House debate at the time. In the second place, it was because the expressed concerns of the deputy secretary, as confirmed publicly, were about the general processes, and not the specific nature of the Sunan Siriwan case.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Why did the Minister tell Parliament on 22 November last year that “there was no question as to the previous Associate Minister’s decision-making”—that is, Damien O’Connor’s decision-making—when the deputy secretary, Mary Anne Thompson, stated publicly on 16 November last year that she approached the Minister of Immigration with her concerns after the group manager for service international, KerupiTavita, drew to her attention the number of failed asylum seekers who were getting those decisions reversed following applications from Mr Field?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
It may interest the member to recall that in the year 1998-99, when he was Associate Minister of Immigration, there were some 2,649 refugee status claims. If I were now, as Minister of Immigration, to revisit the legitimately made, legal, broad discretionary decisions of former Ministers, where would that end?
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I believe that my question was pretty explicit, and the Standing Orders do require the Minister to give an answer that addresses the question. The Minister’s answer just given to the House in no way addressed the quite explicit question I asked.
Madam SPEAKERCertainly the Minister’s answer did address the question, though obviously not to the satisfaction of the member.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Is the Minister aware that the deputy secretary, Mary Anne Thompson, told a parliamentary select committee on 16 November last year that the department’s group manager for service international, KerupiTavita, had “several chats”—I repeat, “several chats”—with Damien O’Connor’s private secretary about the numbers of failed asylum seekers getting decisions reversed by Mr O’Connor following representations from Taito Phillip Field; if so, does he think it plausible that the private secretary would have forgotten to pass on that information on each of those occasions?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I reply yes, because I read the transcript; and yes, because I know what life is like in the Beehive.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
In reviewing the immigration matters covered in the Ingram report—as the Minister has claimed to have done—what steps has he taken to review the allegation by immigration consultant Mr Timothy Spooner that Taito Phillip Field enjoyed favoured treatment with regard to requests to Mr O’Connor for ministerial intervention on immigration matters?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
I seem to recall that Dr Ingram QC described Mr Spooner’s representations as entirely without substance.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
In reviewing the immigration matters contained in the Ingram report, were any communications found—or is he aware whether the police have found any communications—implicating the Hon Phil Goff, following his meeting with Sunan Siriwan while Siriwan was working on the floor of Taito Phillip Field’s house in Samoa?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
None, beyond the repeated but rather pathetic attempts of the member.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Does the Minister have the information to say how many questions on this issue have been put to him by the National Party, and does he know or do his colleagues know of any other issue in the history of this Parliament that has had as many questions as this issue, and why do we not just leave it to the police to conduct their inquiry, rather than have this trial by Parliament by some very unqualified advocates?
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE Link to this
No. My press secretary did a count and advised me that there was one sitting day last year, since the inquiry started, on which I did not receive a question on this matter, and the record is four questions. It may assist the member to know that I am rather enjoying it because it is rather good practice on a fairly harmless issue.