Locke Keith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Locke Keith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:622;Page:17213] 
1. KEITH LOCKE (Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Immigration 
: Is he confident that the Government’s treatment of Ahmed Zaoui is in accord with New Zealand’s international human rights obligations; if so why? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Associate Minister of Immigration) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Immigration 
: Yes. Throughout the process the relevant agencies have taken account of those obligations. 
Keith Locke 
: How can keeping a recognised refugee in jail for 2 years without a specific charge or accusation being made against him accord with international human rights standards from the centuries-old habeas corpus principle to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which even a former Labour Government—the Fraser Government—was involved in formulating? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: The detention of Mr Zaoui has been found by the courts to be lawful and the court decisions to date have indicated no breach of any international obligations. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Why has the Government so mismanaged this affair that a man who is a risk to our country could soon be roaming the streets of New Zealand on bail? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: Under international law anyone who claims refugee status in this country is entitled to a legal process. We are going through that legal process. 
Keith Locke 
: Does the Minister accept and agree with the Supreme Court’s determination that Mr Zaoui is entitled to an urgent bail application and will he be advising the Attorney-General not to oppose such a bail application? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: The Supreme Court ruled that detention is potentially available elsewhere and that bail is potentially available. It will rule on that on 9 December. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I point out to the member that the bail application is still before the court. We cannot reflect upon the issues to be heard in that application. 
Ron Mark 
: Has the Minister heard or read the reported comments made by Dr Harrison QC at a recent law conference or those of Deborah Manning on Radio New Zealand last Friday that liken Zaoui’s treatment here in New Zealand to that of the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and if he has has he launched an inquiry to see whether Mr Zaoui has been blindfolded shackled led around in an orange jumpsuit mistreated and abused; if he has not found any such evidence what damage does he think comments like that do to New Zealand’s reputation? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: There have been many comments made about Mr Zaoui’s detention. He is entitled to the process of the law. That is what we are currently going through. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: How is it that a man whom the Prime Minister accepts is a risk to national security could soon be out on bail and what will the Government do to protect the country in that circumstance? 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR 
: I am not prepared to comment or to prejudge the outcome of the 9 December hearing. This Government is always focused on protecting New Zealand from any risk. 
Keith Locke 
: Why does the Minister keep relying on the SIS’s advice in relation to the security risk certificate applying to Mr Zaoui when that agency is now under a black cloud and the Minister has the power not to rely on that advice and to free Mr Zaoui to live in our community at any time particularly as it is now clear that Mr Zaoui is a democratic politician who has been unjustly slandered by the Algerian regime? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Parts of that question require far too much discussion in relation to what is going on but the Minister may comment on the other parts. 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR 
: The process we will rely on will be the process of the law. That will take into account all information provided on the issue. 
Rod Donald 
: Can the Minister name one flaw in the Refugee Status Appeals Authority’s extensive analysis and criticism of both the Belgian and the French court processes which take up an extensive part of its 215-page report? 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR 
: No I am not prepared to comment on that. There are very learned people in the Supreme Court who will take those issues into account.