9. Question No. 9—Prime MinisterBROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT) to the Prime MinisterQuestion No. 9—Prime Minister9. BROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT) to the Prime Minister: Is the New Zealand Government planning to take further measures to support Ukraine and stand against Russia's unprovoked invasion; if so what is stopping the Government from implementing these measures right now?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes. As I said in the motion earlier today New Zealand has not yet reached the extent of the measures we will take to condemn the recent unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Russia. We will continue to look at measures to condemn this act of war including measures to target Russian finances. To this effect after exploring the role our Overseas Investment Office and Overseas Investment Act could play in further restricting incoming investment we have subsequently sought advice on a specific Russian sanctions bill. We expect to engage with other parties on this course of action shortly. As a country we moved quickly in condemning the invasion and immediately implemented a number of measures in response to Russia's actions some of which are covered by other countries' sanction regimes or are at least similar. All put us in line with our partners' response. These are: targeted travel bans against Russian Government officials and other individuals associated with the invasion of Ukraine the prohibition of the export of all goods to Russian military and security forces and the suspension of bilateral foreign ministry consultations until further notice. New Zealand is also contributing to the humanitarian effort and has provided an initial $2 million in humanitarian aid to support those in Ukraine and we're continuing to work through options that are consistent with New Zealand's unequivocal opposition to Russia's actions.Brooke van Velden: Does she agree that if New Zealand's laws now currently allowed the Government to impose stronger sanctions we would be better placed to stand with other liberal democracies against Russia's aggression and if so will the Government introduce an autonomous sanctions regime under urgency?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I reject the premise of the member's question that we are not standing with other international counterparts. We very much are. You'll see they've introduced export restrictions as we have. They have introduced travel bans as we have. We were an early mover on humanitarian assistance as we often are. Where there perhaps are differences are for instance where countries have made moves through SWIFT—that is not something that New Zealand has a contribution to make given the way that system works; the freezing of Russia's central bank assets; or bans on exports to Russia that extend beyond dual-use goods. That includes aircraft and oil refinery equipment or for instance freezing for example Nord Stream 2. So you'll see that where there has been a difference in approach by countries it's often been because they have a very targeted area which would be impactful for Russia that perhaps is less so for us. That does not mean that there isn't more we can do and we already are exploring a targeted piece of law.Brooke van Velden: Will the Government consider fast-tracking Critical Purpose Visitor Visas for citizens of Ukraine who have family or work connections here and then make them eligible for residence as refugees once in New Zealand similar to what it did for refugees from Afghanistan last year?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: So the Minister has already been liaising with his department over prioritising urgent visa applications from Ukrainian nationals. My understanding is that they're already in a position to do that and are doing that. When it comes to the processing of refugee applications or inclusion of refugees generally obviously we have doubled our quota for refugees. That enables us greater capacity. Of course there is pressure from a number of crises in that regard but we always work through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for that category and so there's obviously a process to go through there but we do have more capacity than we did under the last Government.Brooke van Velden: Will the Government consider allowing businesses to sponsor refugees from Ukraine if they agree to cover housing health and other costs and if not why not?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Currently there is the ability of community organisations to be a part of that kind of programme. I couldn't speak specifically to the current scale of that. Obviously some of our refugee quota has been impacted by COVID. We have however taken very direct action to at least make sure that did not act as a blockage to us responding immediately to the crisis in Afghanistan. It's fair to say that has put pressure on our community organisations who traditionally work with refugees. My final point: Ukraine wants us to get their home back so of course we have to be mindful of what role we can play in the future for those who may not wish to return but we also have to make sure at the same time we are not giving up on their ability to return to their homeland and that is where a strong focus of New Zealand and all like-minded partners is.Brooke van Velden: Point of order Mr Speaker. My question was relatively specific about businesses being able to sponsor refugees rather than community organisations and the programme that the Prime Minister mentioned is specific to approved community organisations.SPEAKER: I will ask the Prime Minister to elaborate on her answer.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I thought it was implicit in my response that what we currently have is a community-based sponsorship regime. When it comes to businesses of course they tend to do that through work visas.Brooke van Velden: Will the Government expel the Russian ambassador from New Zealand?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: We've not removed any options from the table at present. I would note that that is a significant step that hasn't been taken by many at this stage and in part that is because at the same time we have to factor in our ability to continue to look after New Zealanders in the region too. So there is that consequence. My understanding is that at present there have been some who have recalled their own representation—only I believe three countries have done that at this stage. But as I've said nothing is off the table.