Call to change ministers' powers to hand out visas

Gordon Copeland

United Future is calling for an overhaul of immigration ministers' power to issue discretionary visas.

National MPs have already raised the issue after it was revealed Labour MP Taito Phillip Field had successfully applied for 262 discretionary visas for immigrants - many of them overstayers - between 2002 and 2005.

Under the Immigration Act, ministers have wide-ranging discretion in reviewing cases that have already been declined by the immigration service.

A report into Mr Field's dealings by Noel Ingram QC showed that Damien O'Connor, who was then Associate Immigration Minister, processed MPs' applications quicker than others.

Mr O'Connor said he gave greater weight to cases championed by MPs, who had an interest in putting forward good candidates as their name would be associated with migrants who went off the rails.

But United Future immigration spokesman Gordon Copeland said today the system needed to change.

"Any system which depends on who you know rather than clear objective criteria strikes at the Kiwi sense of fair play and needs to be reviewed," he said.

"The present system relies heavily on the thousands of review applications made to the minister each year by MPs.

"This, together with the virtually unlimited discretion of the minister, opens the door to political patronage and perceptions of unfairness.

New Zealand should follow Australia's lead and require overstayers to first leave the country before their immigration status could be considered, he said.

"In other words they suffer a penalty for breaking the law before they are given a second chance." It would also mean greater consistency, he said.

- NZPA