Jones Dail: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Jones Dail: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:625;Page:20226] 
5.  
DAIL JONES (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Immigration 
: How many visa applications under all categories from people whose country of origin was one of the 54 high-risk countries have been approved by New Zealand Immigration Service offshore offices since the Government was formed in 1999? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister of Immigration) 
: 
 I am advised that from 1 December 1999 to 30 April 2005 approximately 385800 applications have been approved by offshore offices in respect of 46 countries considered to be of security concern. The balance are considered to be a risk on matters other than security. 
Dail Jones 
: Why in the post - September 11 climate did this Government continue to allow and employ foreign nationals in at-risk countries to process visa and other applications despite repeated warnings from New Zealand First about the dangers of this practice? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: We were continuing a process that had been in place when for example New Zealand First was in Government. 
Pansy Wong 
: Oh come on! 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: It is true. Secondly we are moving now in stages to bring that process of approval back to New Zealand. 
Dianne Yates 
: What else is the Government considering following recent events regarding the two Iraqi visitors? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: The Government has identified a gap in the consideration of applications for entry to New Zealand from countries of security concern that has existed for decades including during National and New Zealand First Governments. These applications are referred to the SIS for assessment to consider whether people are a security risk. The meaning of “security” is a narrow one contained in the SIS legislation. It does not cover judgments on whether applicants would be desirable or suitable to be in New Zealand. These judgments need to be taken by the New Zealand Immigration Service supported by other agencies and I am taking steps to ensure that this occurs. 
Dail Jones 
: Why is New Zealand unlike other Western democracies not part of the high-level intelligence loops with a list of names of potential security threats that come up with a red flag as soon as these people try to gain entry; or does New Zealand have to resort to Google searches on the web to confirm information to the New Zealand Immigration Service once foreign nationals have already been approved for entry? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: In fact we are part of security loops around the world and there are flags that come up. The problem in the cases that have been raised just recently which is a problem that goes right back through the 1990s and 1980s is the fact that for example somebody who is not a security risk as defined by the SIS legislation but should not be here is not considered for his or her suitability to be in New Zealand. That is what we are going to change. 
Dr Muriel Newman 
: Since it is the responsibility of the Security Intelligence Service to scrutinise applications from high-risk countries with security concerns is it not the case that at the moment the Government is blaming overseas offices of the Immigration Service for the problems that have arisen instead of blaming the Security Intelligence Service whose Minister just happens to be the Prime Minister? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: No. 
Keith Locke 
: Why is the Minister interfering in the normal immigration process by expelling a former Iraqi diplomat Zuhair Mohammed al-Omar halfway through the processing of his family reunification residency application an application that I understand is backed by documentation from the new Iraqi Government? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Primarily because we do not consider that person suitable to be in New Zealand. 
Dail Jones 
: Has the Minister received communications of any kind from say Australian officials their staff or any other nations sympathetic to New Zealand who are now fearful that New Zealand may have become a stop-off point for back-door entry into their nations via New Zealand for suspected terrorists and those associated with the Saddam Hussein regime and if he has not received communications why not? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I cannot recall receiving any representations such as the member has outlined and as to why not I suppose it is because they have not written to me. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Has the Immigration Service identified any other Iraqis of concern; if so what are those details? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: As we announced yesterday there is a major review of applications from those countries going back 2 years and I will be able to give the member the results of that in due course. 
Dail Jones 
: What has been the point of the $3 million Advance Passenger Screening system and the $20 million boost to help the New Zealand Immigration Service manage risk when now he is having to apply damage control to this national security mess which is being resolved only as a result of the information being made available by New Zealand First despite the fact that the Minister has a multihundred - million dollar department to support him? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: It is important to point out for a start that this is not a national security risk. As I said to the member these people do not meet the standards of security risk under the Security Intelligence Service legislation; that is the first point. What is the advantage of the Advance Passenger Screening system? Well it has actually been extraordinarily good because for example in 1997-98—a period that the member may be interested in—2627 refugee-status claims came through the border and for 2004-05 as at February this year there were 277. A lot of that has been brought about because of toughened border control and extra money that this Government has put into these things. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Can the Minister give an assurance that the checks that his department will be undertaking of Iraqis who have come to New Zealand in recent years will include those who have been granted refugee status; if so can he assure us that his department would be able to locate say a member of Saddam Hussein’s police force who may have been granted refugee status in this country? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: We are going over all applications and as I said if the review is going to be as thorough as the member requests—which I agree with—then it will take some time.