3. Dr JACKIE BLUE (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Immigration
What new announcements has the Government made regarding business migration?
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Immigration) Link to this
Today the Government announced a new business migration package, which will help boost the New Zealand economy and support initiatives identified at the Job Summit. The new policy sets more realistic investment capital and English language requirements, which will make New Zealand a more attractive destination for business and entrepreneurial migrants.
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN Link to this
The previous Government’s business migration policy settings were too tight, with unrealistic investment and English language requirements. Under the previous Government two of the three investor categories attracted a total of three migrants in 2 years. This has meant lost economic growth opportunities for New Zealand. It is a situation that has to be turned round.
Hon Pete HodgsonHon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN Link to this
Well, given that under that member’s Government two of those categories brought in three migrants in total, I think we can safely say that it can only be upside.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I am submitting that that question was not addressed. It was a closed question, it was a straight question, and it was not addressed and no attempt was made to address it, which is outside the Standing Orders.
Mr SPEAKERI appreciate the honourable member’s point of order, but I think in fairness, given the Government’s announcement regarding business migration, to expect the Minister to have specific figures on the expected impact on unemployment is a pretty big ask. What the Minister said in his answer was that he saw upside in employment; I think that was the language he used. To expect a more precise answer to such a supplementary question is a bit difficult.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. It may help your judgment if you were to reflect on the fact that this was a high priority issue coming from the Job Summit, and, secondly, one of the investor categories requires the creation of at least three jobs. So the question around jobs is directly relevant to the press statement that the Government has put out. The Minister did not address the question.
Well, he did indicate in his answer that he expected there to be increased employment as a result. The member has a further supplementary question with which to pursue that, but I think it is a fairly tough one to expect the Minister to have a precise answer to that question.
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN Link to this
For investors there are now two categories. Investor-plus requires $10 million of investment over 3 years, and removes the English language requirements. The new general investor category requires $1.5 million over 4 years, and sets a realistic language requirement for these investors. The new entrepreneur-plus category fast tracks residence for migrants who invest half a million dollars in their businesses and create three jobs. These are positive Job Summit initiatives that will enhance New Zealand’s economic development.