Politicians, Favours and Immigration
Blog: Jamie Whyte, ACT Party Leader
15/07/2014
Today the Herald ran a story about Kim Dotcom’s residency application which suggested that political pressure had been
applied in his favour. Who knows the truth in this case?
But politicians’ involvement with would-be immigrants is clearly a problem. Maurice Williamson, Phillip Field, Shane
Jones, Damien O’Connor and now Jonathan Coleman have been drawn into controversy.
Even if there has been no improper behaviour, the appearance of politicians doing favours for wealthy would-be
immigrants undermines public confidence not only in our immigration system but in politics more generally. People will
suspect that politicians are doing favours for these would-be immigrants in return for favours they have done the
politicians.
The problem has a simple solution. The Minister of Immigration should have no involvement in the immigration application
process. Nor should any other MP. Immigration applications are an operational matter. Political interference should play
no role in them.
When exceptions to standard policy need to be considered, this should be done by qualified members of the Immigration
and Protection Tribunal (IPT), which already exists. The IPT may need a wider remit to approve exceptional cases. That
is a proper matter for politicians to decide. But once the rules and processes are established, politicians should play
no further role in the matter. They should have no say in individual cases.
New Zealand is governed by the rule of law, not the arbitrary whim of politicians. Immigration should be no exception.
So long as it is, connections between rich would-be immigrants and politicians will undermine public confidence in the
integrity of the system.
ENDS