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.