Prasad Rajen: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumePrasad Rajen: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 29 January 2014. Volume:696;Page:15622. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.Dr RAJEN PRASAD (Labour) to theMinister of Immigration: Is he concerned about the level of illegal job selling taking place according to reports onCampbell Live this week?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (Minister of Immigration): Naturally I am concerned as I would be about any potential breach of immigration law. In terms of the show onCampbell Live it was certainly compelling TV and very good investigative journalism but for Immigration New Zealand it was nothing new. It has been aware of these cases since last year and has an active investigation under way.Dr Rajen Prasad: What actions is the Minister taking to increase the number of migrants and others coming forward who have been affected by job-selling given that many migrants are vulnerable if they disclose their involvement?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: As the member should know given he is Labour’s immigration spokesman I changed instructions in June last year to direct officials to turn their turrets on employers not employees. I also introduced legislation increasing penalties for those legally working in New Zealand who are subject to exploitation. I note the member’s press release yesterday where he said: “I have had constituents friends and acquaintances tell of many examples where either an intermediary a business owner or a registered practitioner has engaged in job selling.” Well if that member wants to get rid of his reputation as the least energetic member of this House—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! [Interruption] Order! Order! The member will resume his seat.Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. You stood on your feet to sit the member down which was the right course of action. The member continued speaking for some time not unlike what the Prime Minister did earlier. If people are going to disobey your rulings like that it will lead to disorder in the House.Mr SPEAKER: I fully accept the point the member is making. I will take this opportunity of reminding all members that if I rise to my feet it is essential that the member returns to his seat. To give the Minister the benefit of the doubt he may well have been concentrating on an answer that was unhelpful to the order of the House and I will give him the benefit of the doubt that he did not see me rise to my feet. But in future all members must resume their seat as soon as I rise to my feet. Are there further supplementary questions?Dr Rajen Prasad: Yes there are. The member will keep—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will also simply ask the supplementary question.Dr Rajen Prasad: Given the views of those working in the field that job-selling is now endemic why will the Minister not immediately establish an inquiry into the abuse of our immigration system with appropriate immunity granted for those who come forward?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: Because I am satisfied that no such review is necessary. The investigation is going on—[Interruption] If the member will listen the case that was the subject of theCampbell Live exposé on the last two evenings was referred to Immigration New Zealand by an anonymous tip toCrimestoppers. It is a pretty simple process to pick up the phone and dial an 0800 number to alert immigration authorities to the potential for this behaviour going on and I encourage the member to communicate with his constituents just that type of behaviour.Mr SPEAKER: Before I call the member can I ask for a little less of a barrage coming from members to my left when an answer is being given to a question that has been raised by a member of the Opposition.Darien Fenton: What steps has he taken to prevent job-selling in the Christchurch rebuild given that there have already been cases of migrant worker exploitation and reports of job-selling offshore?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: I am certainly aware of some issues in respect of the Philippinediaspora in the Christchurch area. The Philippines Ambassador and I visited the city late last year to talk to employers employees and the Chamber of Commerce. I am also working with my colleague the Minister of Labour on a set of standards for employers in respect of the employment of foreign migrant workers. I am satisfied that the message has got out in the Canterbury community that anybody who has information about illegal activity can safely contact the authorities in order that those claims be investigated.