12. Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH (National—Rodney) Link to this
to the Minister of Immigration
Does he have confidence in the New Zealand Immigration Service?
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Minister of Immigration) Link to this
Yes, but there is always room for improvement.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
How can ordinary, law-abiding Kiwis have confidence in the Immigration Service when since 1 January 2000, under Labour, 282 people have been eligible for deportation from New Zealand, yet only 76 people have actually been deported?
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE Link to this
They can have confidence in the Immigration Service because my advice is that between 1999 and this year there have been far more deportations than there were under that member’s Government prior to then.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
How can taxpayers have confidence that the Immigration Service is doing all it can to safeguard law-abiding Kiwis when under Labour, even after factoring in the number of deportation notices issued and the decisions of the courts and appeal authorities, only about one in three people still eligible for deportation actually get deported?
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE Link to this
I am advised that in terms of the deportation cases considered and notices issued by the Minister, for the calendar year 1999 nine cases were considered and seven notices were issued. That compares with 2007, when 42 cases were considered and 38 notices were issued. A number of factors lead to deportation. Under this Government, the public can be very, very confident that those cases will be actioned, but they have to go through the proper legal processes.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Can the Minister confirm that under the Immigration Act 1987, people are eligible for deportation if they commit serious criminal offences within a period of up to 10 years after arriving in New Zealand?
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE Link to this
Indeed, and I also state that those deportations have to go through the proper processes and are subject to appeal before being signed out.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
How can people have confidence in the Immigration Service when, under this Labour Government, over 160 people who may have committed violent criminal acts and victimised ordinary, law-abiding Kiwis have not been deported from New Zealand when they should have been?
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE Link to this
I cannot confirm that, at all. The member makes the assertion. He also makes the assertion that they should have been deported and they were not. They are also subject to appeal rights and proper legal process.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
How can ordinary, law-abiding Kiwis have confidence that their safety is not being put at risk by the decision not to deport a man who has committed two counts of indecent assault—the most recent of which was while he was out on parole for the first indecent assault—who has committed aggravated robbery, assault, drug offences, multiple counts of burglary, robbery, and theft, and who in fact has a criminal record of at least 38 such convictions, for which the police sought his deportation; why has the Government blocked that person’s deportation?
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE Link to this
Again, I say that the Government does not block deportations. The member makes an assertion. Deportations are subject to appeal. There are a number of factors involved. I will say that in terms of preventing risk to New Zealanders, we have one of the most advanced passenger profiling systems in the world. When, for instance, someone rocks up at a particular airport and is flagged before checking in his or her bags—
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE Link to this
The member does not like the answer, but I will try anyway. When someone checks in his or her bags at the airport, if there is a flag that is checked with Immigration New Zealand, then the person will be handed back his or her bags and will not get on the plane. Under this Government, that is about expanding New Zealand’s border control right across the globe, not just waiting until something happens in New Zealand and then dealing with it.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. My question was specifically about deportation. The Minister’s answer just talked about removal. As Minister of Immigration, he should know the difference between deportation and removal.
Madam SPEAKER
Peter BrownNoting those answers, will the Minister confirm that the new Immigration Bill that is currently before the select committee, and which has emanated from the confidence and supply agreement between Labour and New Zealand First, will improve the situation no end inasmuch as handling deportations, removals, and the various other problems that Immigration New Zealand is faced with is concerned?
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE Link to this
I will address an interjection from the Dr Lockwood Smith, who said that it has not worked. I tell him that the bill has not actually been passed through the House. It cannot work because it has not been passed. That is a relatively simple legal tenet that a senior member of that man’s standing should know. But to answer the member’s question, I say that, yes, I believe that the bill will improve the situation. The bill will streamline a series of processes. But, of course, deportations are exceptionally complex. They are still subject to appeal, even under the Act, because there are various considerations. So the bill will not be a panacea to expedite deportations in the way that that member wants.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. During the time Mr Brown was asking a question, numerous comments came from the National Party suggesting that he go home. With the greatest of respect, that is likely to lead to unruly behaviour in this House, given that so many of the National members owe their presence here to the fact that some other people in Parliament allowed their parents to come to New Zealand. They all sit there now, arrogantly thinking the country is theirs and does not belong to a worthy person like Mr Brown, who has been a high-paying taxpayer and a very worthy citizen for decades in New Zealand.