Statements by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Immigration following the business forum that New Zealand needs to urgently allow more skilled migrants are bizarre, said ACT Immigration Spokesperson Penny Webster.

“It is simply unacceptable that we have our leading politicians focused on plugging the increasing skill gaps created by a poor performing economy.

“These occupations are short-staffed globally and New Zealand has to compete for skilled workers. But the real problem is that our economy has performed so poorly, that our skilled people understandably continue to go to countries with higher standards of living.

“These people will be earning much more money overseas in an environment that celebrates their skills rather than resents them. We must have lower taxes for all the workforce and an economy that is growing.

“In the year ended September 2000 we have exported:

* 1,191 nurses * 772 Health Professionals * 366 Health and nursing associate professionals * 902 IT workers * 3,186 skilled trade workers.

“Surely the Minister can see that attracting back our own New Zealand trained people will go some way towards solving the problem,” said Penny Webster

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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