Auchinvole Chris: Immigration Amendment Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeAuchinvole Chris: Immigration Amendment Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 13 June 2013. Volume:691;Page:11162. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]CHRIS AUCHINVOLE (National):I stand to speak in favour of this Immigration Amendment Bill in the name of the Hon Michael Woodhouse. For a moment I thought I would be able to stand and say: “Ah it is nice to be able to agree with almost everything that Denis O’Rourke said.” I did—I did—but then what happened? He got to the end of it and he said: “But we are going to vote against it.” Having said that it met his requirements but was not quite tough enough in some directions he then spoilt it all. I did have that line honestly—I had shared it with my friends. That is what I was going to say Mr O’Rourke—that is what I was going to say.I listened with interest though to Andrew Little to Darien Fenton to Jan Logie—[Interruption ] No no it was. I always like listening to them. But the thing was that they expressed great concern—great concern—that we have gone to the trouble of making this legislation and it was never ever going to be used. Never. It was never going to be used because it would never ever happen. So I wonder why they had quite so much concern if it is never going to happen. I think it is a little far-fetched and a little fancifulto say that something will never happen. It is a responsibility of the Government to be prepared.The policy package this bill forms is about two things. It is about deterring a mass arrival and about managing a mass arrival should one occur. The bill is not anti-immigration. As an immigrant myself in my own lifetime surrounded by people whose parents or grandparents or great-grandparents were immigrants I could not in good conscience support something I felt would move this country away from the inviting understanding and multicultural nation that it indeed is.The Immigration Amendment Bill forms part of a package of measures aimed at deterring people-smugglers who are despicable individuals—and collectively despicable as well—and asylum seekers from making a highly risky journey to New Zealand by boat. The bill would also enable the effective and efficient management of a mass arrival to our shores should one occur. My wife and I have been reading a lot about people-smuggling and slavery. It goes on in far too great a volume. People are extremely vulnerable if they land in a country with no identification with no sense of security and with no knowledge of the country. We have a responsibility to look after them. It is our obligation to deter people from making wildly dangerous journeys but it is also our obligation as a responsible Government to plan how to handle those who do.This legislation contrary to the expressions of others is not about punishing people with a genuine claim for refugee status; it is about sending a strong message to people-smugglers that they are not welcome here that their work is not required here and that the protection of the vulnerable boat people including children whose lives are put at risk is paramount. The appalling reality of these trips means a higher number of lives lost at sea. Since 2009 there have been 600 people who have lost their lives—that we know about.Dr Cam Calder: How many?CHRIS AUCHINVOLE: About 600.Su’a William Sio: Where?CHRIS AUCHINVOLE: On their way to seeking asylum in Australia. These people have been taken advantage of and it is only right that we ensure that we are not encouraging such accidents by stating that it is “unlikely” that these ruthless people—they will do anything for the money—would attempt to land in New Zealand. They do not put themselves at risk; they just put their cargo at risk. We must not sit idly by and watch this happen. The bill is firm but fair and will work to undermine the ability of these deplorable people to continue to use our nation as a selling point for their risking of desperate lives.The New Zealand Government is working hard across agencies and with international partners to ensure that the risk of mass arrivals and illegal immigrants in New Zealand is properly addressed and mitigated. I am very proud to support this bill and its sentiments. Thank you.