Benefit for Zaoui may cost $10,000, says MP

Taxpayers may have to cough up $10,000 a year for Ahmed Zaoui if he qualifies for an emergency benefit, National MP Tony Ryall warned yesterday.

Mr Zaoui, a former Algerian MP, was released from jail last week after being imprisoned as a "threat to national security" in December 2002.

He was later declared a refugee by the Refugee Status Appeals Authority.

The security certificate needs to be reviewed by the Inspector General of Security but that cannot be done while court action is pending.

Mr Zaoui was granted bail by the Supreme Court last week to live with an order of Dominican friars in Auckland.

Mr Ryall said Mr Zaoui would, under normal circumstances, be eligible for the emergency benefit of $194 a week before tax.

But he believed Mr Zaoui should be declined because he did not meet Work and Income's criterion of being in New Zealand lawfully, could not prove he did not contribute to the situation he found himself in and could not prove hardship.

"It is clear that Mr Zaoui fails all three tests, so he should not get a benefit," Mr Ryall said.

Mr Zaoui had already cost taxpayers more than $1 million in legal aid.

"Taxpayers will be outraged if they have to pay him a benefit.

"Mr Zaoui has never paid $1 in tax in this country," said Mr Ryall.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Social Development said she could not comment on individual cases.

But she said the department had no discretion over whether an applicant received an emergency benefit if he or she met the criteria.

Associate Social Development Minister Rick Barker said anyone unlawfully in New Zealand but granted refugee status was entitled to apply for an emergency benefit. Each case was considered on its merits.

"Currently Ahmed Zaoui is not entitled to a work permit and, if he was to apply for a benefit, he would be treated under criteria the same as anyone else subject to the rules as passed by Parliament."

- NZPA