May 1 2008 – Exodus To Australia from New Zealand Blamed on Government Policies
TRANS-TASMAN RELATIONS: National and ACT are blaming government policies for a sharp increase in the number of people immigrating permanently to Australia. Statistics show a net outflow of 3100 permanent and long term migrants (PLT) to Australia in March, up from 2800 in March 2007.
National’s immigration spokesman, Lockwood Smith, said the figures showed the number of people leaving for Australia rose 19 percent to 43,419 in the year to March 2008.
"In March alone, 4152 New Zealanders packed up and pulled out," he said.
"Even when you balance the figures with those who arrived in New Zealand, the figures are staggering.
"The net loss is up 28 percent to 29,892."
Dr Smith said people were fed up with a government that has mismanaged the economy and over-taxed them while "gloating about its surplus".
"These are our tradesmen and our university graduates -- the future of this country is fleeing in droves," he said.
ACT’s Sir Roger Douglas said people would continue to leave for Australia and elsewhere as long as the Government’s "current mad policies" were in place.
"New Zealand needs to put in place policies that will enable us to catch up -- policies that will enable us to increase growth by 5 percent a year or 4 percent per capita," he said.
Sir Roger said ACT would outline those policies during the next six months and it was the only party "that has the guts to do what’s right".
Statistics New Zealand’s figures showed there were 83,500 PLT arrivals in the year to the end of March, up 1000 from the March 2007 year, while the 78,800 PLT departures was up 8400.
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