Mark Ron: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMark Ron: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 18 February 2016. Volume:711;Page:9151. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]7.RON MARK (Deputy Leader—NZ First) to the Minister of Immigration: Has he had cause for concern about the effects of the current Government’s immigration policy; if so what are the concerns?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (Minister of Immigration): I am constantly concerned to ensure that the very positive effects of the Government’s immigration policies are achieved whether they are economic social or humanitarian. I am very satisfied that they are.Ron Mark: Does he agree with the director of the Serious Fraud Office who told Parliament’s Law and Order Committee that “Immigration to New Zealand has brought other cultures which take a completely different view in relation to conduct we consider to be corrupt.”; if not why not?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: I respectfully disagree with most of what the Serious Fraud Office director has said but to the degree that there is an issue around that the biggest factor that I see as Minister of Immigration is that many people who are recent arrivals into New Zealand need to be encouraged to understand that in this country the rule of law can be trusted that authorities can be relied upon. Indeed to the extent that there may well be problems with migrant exploitation this Government passed the Immigration Amendment Act last year to significantly increase the penalties including for those who themselves are recent migrants and could be liable for deportation.Ron Mark: Why will he not accept what the Serious Fraud Officer director is saying and move to stem the tide of immigration and advise his department to educate new arrivals in New Zealand that corrupt practices are not acceptable?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: Because to the extent that the Serious Fraud Office director was referring to the Transparency International New Zealand report which was recently released and which she quoted the changes in New Zealand’s ranking were very very much at the margins and we can remain confident that there are very low or no levels of corruption in this country. To the second question no because this Government believes that sensible migration and immigration policy is very very positive.Ron Mark: So is he happy that unfortunate numbers of immigrants are bringing corrupt practices such as backhanders to Government officials and other nefarious activity to New Zealand such as the way they are treating employees of their own ethnicity? Is he happy with that?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: I am never happy as any Government official would be when people break the law. But just as when I was Minister of Police I would not have been happy when New Zealanders broke the law or sped on the roads. There need to be consequences; there are. We have very very sound immigration policies and the things that the member describes are very much at the margins. He should not be using them to peddle his party’s redneck policies of anti-immigration. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! The last part of that answer was—Ron Mark: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That was a rather offensive statement to accuse a party of being redneck. I ask for your protection from the House. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am going to ask the Minister just to stand and withdraw the last three or four words of that answer.Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: I withdraw those last words.