Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Peters Winston: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:606;Page:3984] 
7.  
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Immigration 
: What is the number of non-New Zealand born permanent residents or citizens who left New Zealand to live permanently in Australia in the 12 months since the Social Security Agreement with Australia in February 2001 and how does this number compare with the number of non-New Zealand born permanent residents or citizens who left New Zealand to live permanently in Australia 12 months prior to the Social Security Agreement? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL (Minister of Immigration) 
: 
 The departure cards which are the source of permanent and long-term departure statistics did not begin recording country of birth until September 2000 therefore comparative data relating to non New Zealand-born permanent and long-term departures cannot be provided for the year ended January 2001. The total figures for the 2 years rounded to the nearest 100 are 39400 and 33200. The year that I can give non New Zealand-resident departure statistics for or non New Zealand-born figures is the year ended January 2002. That figure was 10400 but I should note that there were 1000 people who did not identify country of birth on their departure card. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Why is it yet again that the Minister has no idea of what is going on in respect of immigration to or emigration from this country has not done the research does not have the detail and the figures she does give are wrong as provided this day from—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: There is a lot of comment and I would like the member to get to the question. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Why is it that this day Statistics New Zealand has provided information that states that the figures are 42196 for February 2001 and 29729 for February 2002—a 29 percent decrease—and is it not a fact that this country was used as a bolt hole by immigrants who came to this country with no long-term commitment and shot through to Australia hence the signing of the agreement and the loss of a 100-year relationship that we once had with Australia? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: Given that the member is referring to statistics that relate to the year 2000 and that a migrant to this country— 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: No. 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: —or 2001 it does not matter which one—and because a person of residence has to have residence for 3 years before he or she is eligible for citizenship and a New Zealand passport that member should be asking himself that question. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It is not acceptable for that Minister to claim that the person asking the question should be answering it particularly when she has been provided the information by her department under the Official Information Act and under Statistics New Zealand disclosures. It is simply unsatisfactory. We are paying her to have an LTD and a ministerial home. She should be fired because she is incompetent. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member has gone on too far again. The last clause of the Minister’s answer was not in order the rest of it was. 
Georgina Beyer 
: Has the Minister received any advice on why fewer New Zealand citizens and residents are leaving for Australia on a permanent or long-term basis? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: Yes the most recent advice which I received last week from the Labour Market Policy Group comments on the tighter eligibility criteria for New Zealanders receiving social welfare in Australia coupled with favourable economic and labour market conditions in New Zealand. Members will be pleased to know that that advice will be released on the Department of Labour website tomorrow. 
Katherine Rich 
: Is the Minister at all concerned that New Zealand’s lower standards of entry have created a situation where we are being used as a back door to Australia for migrants who cannot meet Australia’s far more stringent tests and that as a result genuine New Zealand citizens and permanent residents have lost their social services privileges in Australia; if not why not? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: I take it from the question that the member supports New Zealanders being on the dole in Australia. I do not. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Given the Minister’s answers in the House again today I ask her why she would make that statement when on 7 March 2001 she said: “Uncertainty created by negotiations finalised last month was responsible for a sizeable increase in the number of skilled Kiwis leaving the country last year.” Why is she disowning her own words that she said back then? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: I am not disowning my words from then at all. In fact if we look at the report that came out from Statistics New Zealand on Monday 3 March we see that there has been a significant drop in departures to Australia. If we look at the 3 years in total— 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister again has had 4 hours’ notice. The dates I am referring to are the 12 months before and the 12 months after the agreement was signed. She is now seeking to go way away from all the questions that have been asked on the issue which concerns whether there was a flood of people who went before the agreement was signed and whether the flood stopped afterwards. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister is addressing the question. She may continue. 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: That is precisely the point that I am making. At the end of January 2001 39400 people left for Australia. In the following year there were 33200 and last year I am pleased to report it was down to about 24000.