Lockwood Smith MP
National Party Immigration Spokesman
22 October 2008
RSE comments out of context
National Party Immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith says he is concerned that statements attributed to him in a
Marlborough media report yesterday have been taken out of context.
"My comments, regarding the extent to which employers, under the RSE scheme were being required to provide life skills
training to RSE workers, were simply reporting the strong concerns expressed to me by many employers.
“These reported concerns have been expressed in the media previously, and there has been strong advocacy for future
changes to the scheme to deal with them.
"Presented in the way they were, I can see that my reported comments may have caused offence. I sincerely regret that
because it certainly was not my intention.
"The National Party supports the RSE scheme and wants to see it expanded and improved."
ENDS