Signs of Panic Behind Immigration Announcement.

There are signs of panic behind today’s rushed announcement of changes to the English language requirement for skills and business immigration applicants, according to National’s Immigration Spokesperson Murray McCully.

“Lifting the bar in terms of the English language requirement is one of the obvious responses to the recent reports from officials showing a significant disparity in settlement timetables depending upon English language competence and educational background. But this is just an isolated attempt to give the appearance of activity in a portfolio which requires larger, properly co-ordinated changes.

“It need to be remembered that one third of the immigrants arriving in New Zealand qualify on family or humanitarian grounds. Those categories are not affected by today's announcement. If we are serious about seeing immigration policy focus on enhancing New Zealand's performance, then changes are clearly required in that area,” said Mr McCully.

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