12. Question No. 12—ImmigrationSTUART SMITH (National—Kaikōura) to the Minister of ImmigrationQuestion No. 12—Immigration12. STUART SMITH (National—Kaikōura) to the Minister of Immigration: Is he satisfied that representations by prominent people supporting visa applications are dealt with in an appropriate and transparent manner?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY (Minister of Immigration): I wish to join parliamentary colleagues in acknowledging the victims of the eruption at Whakaari / White Island as well as their families and friends. I can advise the House that the immigration response structure has been activated. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) border facilitation is on standby to assist relatives of victims who wish to travel to New Zealand and INZ is ready to assist victims and their families in any way they can. In answer to the member's question yes there are longstanding processes and practices to ensure that representations of support for visa applications by any supporters are dealt with appropriately. The prominence of supporters is irrelevant; everyone is treated equally and fairly.Stuart Smith: By what methods did the Hon Kris Faafoi contact the office of his Associate Minister of Immigration in support of the application of Mr Mich Obadiah?SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member will now phrase his question in a way which includes the responsibility of the Minister without an assertion that has not been established.Stuart Smith: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I draw your attention to Speakers' rulings 152/5 153/1 and 153/2. The Minister transferred these questions—or the Government did which they have a right to—but they don't have a right to do that if the Minister is not in a position to answer the question nor—SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member will resume his seat. I've ruled on the matter. There are areas which some ministerial responsibility has to be established for and in particular in this particular case the member made an assertion for which he has provided no evidence.Stuart Smith: By what methods did the Hon Kris Faafoi contact the office of the Associate Minister of Immigration regarding the application of Mr Mich Obadiah?SPEAKER: Right well that was the second failure. The member can try again if he wants to.Stuart Smith: Very well. Have any other Government Ministers who have contacted the Minister's office or the Associate Minister's office regarding requests for special assistance for visa applications?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: Sorry could the member ask the question again please?SPEAKER: I think if he could leave out the word other" you'd probably get it in order.Stuart Smith: Have any Government Ministers who have contacted the Minister's office or Associate Minister's office regarding requests for special assistance for visa applications?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: I'm sorry Mr Speaker. I just don't think the question makes sense.SPEAKER: It does actually make sense if one thinks about it carefully. It's pretty simple: have any Ministers made representations either to the Minister or to Associate Ministers' offices with regard to visa applications?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: Yes it's a core role of every member of Parliament.Stuart Smith: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I quite clearly said "Ministers" not "members of Parliament" per se.SPEAKER: And one of the things we've established pretty clearly in this House is that Ministers are members of Parliament and they have a—[Interruption] Order! They have a variety of roles. I think what we've also established is that when they make representations in this particular type of representation—because some of us have had a long history of watching these matters including a bit over a decade ago—people do make representations for constituents and for others.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It would be ridiculous for us to assume that the question might have been trying to make a separation that said a Minister wasn't a member of Parliament but it is not ridiculous to ask if someone who is a Minister makes a representation—quite a different thing. You can't have—SPEAKER: Sorry that question was answered. He said yes.Hon Gerry Brownlee: OK that's fine.Stuart Smith: One more is it?SPEAKER: Well depending on whether you want to use another couple or have them off tomorrow.Stuart Smith: Did the Hon Kris Faafoi ask his Associate Minister of Immigration to grant Mr Mich Obadiah a visa?Hon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY: I'm advised that neither Immigration New Zealand nor the Associate Minister has any record of any representations or involvement by any member of Parliament in relation to Mr Obadiah's case."