Jones Dail: Immigration Amendment Bill — Instructions to CommitteeCWH In Committee 
Jones Dail: Immigration Amendment Bill — Instructions to CommitteeCWH In Committee 
[Volume:611;Page:8271] 
DAIL JONES (NZ First) 
: 
 New Zealand First has indicated its opposition to the Immigration Amendment Bill. Part 1 covers clause 2 “Commencement” and clause 3 “Objects of Act”. There are no wider or more important provisions in any legislation than the objects of that legislation which are covered here in paragraphs (a) (b) and (c) of clause 3. I mention at this stage that about five New Zealand First members are hoping to take the call in this debate particularly on this part which is of vital importance to New Zealand First and to the people of New Zealand. 
I have put forward an amendment to clause 3(c). That paragraph states: “allow for Government residence policy that will better enable the selection and active recruitment of migrants who can make the best possible contribution to New Zealand and settle well in New Zealand.” My amendment adds: “such migrants to be people who have jobs approved for them before they come to New Zealand such jobs being real vacancies and not jobs taken from existing workers in New Zealand.” That was the promise we had from the Minister of Immigration when she introduced this bill. She told us then that the days of immigrants having to have points were being abolished and that she would match job vacancies with people coming to New Zealand. She has found of course that that policy of hers was doomed to failure even as she uttered the words because the Immigration Service is in an absolute mess. It has anywhere between 40000 and 80000 applications. It has written off 20000 applications about another 8000 are falling by the wayside and it has even lost some in its warehouse. 
As a matter of interest New Zealand First’s view is very close to that of the Council of Trade Unions. That is hardly surprising because we want to make sure as does the Council of Trade Unions that people who come to New Zealand actually have a proper job. We do not want people coming to New Zealand as doctors and ending up as taxi-drivers. This bill as it stands does not do anything about that. We want to make sure that as the Council of Trade Unions stated in 2.1(a) of its comments with regard to the objects of the legislation: “There needs to be a balance between immigration and investment in skill development training and pre-employment initiatives for those already here.” That is New Zealand First’s policy. The Council of Trade Unions is quoting New Zealand First policy. It goes on to state that it supports immigration policies that are consistent with workforce and skill development strategies rather than those that act as quick fixes to recruitment and retention problems. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr Rodney Hide is interjecting. He supports the Business New Zealand policy which is to bring into New Zealand as many people as possible bring down wages and allow the rich who support the ACT party to do very well from New Zealand having a low-wage policy. That is the ACT party’s policy. 
Darren Hughes 
: No one supports the ACT party. 
DAIL JONES 
: Mr Darren Hughes the member for Otaki can smile but that is the policy he supports because the Labour Party supports the Business New Zealand policy of ripping off the workers. That is what it boils down to. 
We in New Zealand First have made it very clear that we want people to come to New Zealand but we want to make sure—[ 
Interruption 
] I have been called worse than that; it does not worry me; that is that member’s sense of humour. New Zealand First has made it quite clear that we support the Council of Trade Unions’ view that the issues of long-term labour supply are intrinsically linked to education and skill development fertility economic development—including workforce development—innovation technology diffusion wages and conditions and so forth. The support of the Council of Trade Unions for this legislation is very very qualified support. It is telling the Labour Party as are the workers of this country that the workers of this country are concerned that their jobs are on the line. Their jobs are going to overseas immigrants who provide cheap labour and that is supported by ACT and Business New Zealand. ACT Business New Zealand and the Labour Party can join together and support this bill but New Zealand First is concerned that workers’ rights are left out of this legislation. 
Rodney Hide 
: What about the workers? 
DAIL JONES 
: One never hears anyone from the Labour Party saying “What about the workers?” any more. Members of that party do not care two hoots about the workers of this country. As the Council of Trade Unions has indicated and as we have said in the 15 principles of New Zealand First the basic principles of the foundation of our party priority should be given to immigrants who have the skills and qualifications necessary.