6. Question No. 6—ImmigrationDr JAMES McDOWALL (ACT) to the Minister of ImmigrationQuestion No. 6—Immigration6. Dr JAMES McDOWALL (ACT) to the Minister of Immigration: Does he stand by all his statements and actions?Hon KRIS FAAFOI (Minister of Immigration): Kia orana Mr Speaker. Yes because as I have said I stand by our Government's management of the border to keep COVID out of our communities to make sure that New Zealanders can get home to reunite families and to respond to skill shortages where we can. Throughout the pandemic we have worked to strike the balance between protecting people using the limited capacity we have at the border to bring people through and making the best use of onshore workforce through changes to visa settings. In taking this approach we've been able to bring more than 17000 skilled workers and their families into the country to date while the border is closed.Dr James McDowall: Can the Minister commit to a date that is more specific than short order" for resuming expression-of-interest selection for the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) to give skilled migrants certainty over their future?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: I can commit to the fact that we are looking at the issue and very soon we will make an announcement of that decision.Dr James McDowall: Why should migrants who have lodged expressions of interest for the Skilled Migrant Category have faith in this Government if their Minister of Immigration can't even commit to a specific time frame?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: I think as I said in question No. 3 the member should look at the actions that we've taken in response to issues around the likes of the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme and essential skills visas. As we have said for a long time we are constantly looking at our immigration settings and making changes when available to do so in a safe manner. We have said we're going to make a decision on expressions of interest soon; I'm sure he's looking forward to an announcement.Dr James McDowall: Does the Government want to retain skilled migrants such as much-needed doctors and if so why are they not acting to give them certainty over residency?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: Again as I outlined in question No. 3 the two challenges with the current settings with the SMC we do want to make sure we are retaining skilled workers in New Zealand; they are extremely important for our communities and for our economy and soon we will be able to give them some certainty about those who want to have a pathway to residence here in New Zealand.Erica Stanford: Can the Minister explain to the thousands of Kiwis trying to return home why skilled migrants are leaving the country due to residency delays while at the same time the Government is announcing border exceptions for new migrants to replace them who require space in managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ)?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: As I said earlier we've had 17000 critical workers and their families come into the country. I acknowledge the difficulties that some people who would like to get their residency applications tended to cannot at the moment. But I think that would pale in comparison to the 17000 people we have been able to let through while the border was closed on critical purpose visas.Dr James McDowall: What does he say to skilled migrants who are being placed in the impossible position of choosing between supporting their family offshore by working in New Zealand or leaving the country so that they can join their family but would face an uncertain financial future?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: When the border closed that obviously caused challenges for people whose families were on the other side of the border. When we are able to in terms of managed isolation capacity we have made decisions to allow families to reunite. As the member may have seen the demand on MIQ places continues to be strong and balancing the demand for New Zealanders coming home for the likes of split families and also for the likes of people who are given border exceptions is a balance that the Government is constantly looking at to make sure that we can do what is right for New Zealanders who have the right to come home for those families who have difficulties in being split but also making sure that we support the economy.Dr James McDowall: Can the Minister confirm that the wage requirement increase for the Skilled Migrant Category effective from 19 July 2021 will mean that any applicant with a frozen expression of interest submitted before that date is no longer eligible to apply for residency assuming they do not meet the new wage requirement?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: As I have said we are currently looking at the settings for expressions of interest and residency. When we make the final decisions on that I will be able to inform the member."