28 September 2001

New Zealand First Leader, Rt Hon Winston Peters, is not surprised that two of the Afghani queue jumpers have been intercepted by Police before they even got out of Auckland Airport and are now in Mt Eden Prison.

“The Minister responsible, Lianne Dalziel, has for the last few days been saying that this group poses no threat to New Zealand. But yesterday we saw two being taken to hospital with an unknown illness, and today we have seen two more being taken into police custody before they could even be interviewed by immigration officers,” said Mr Peters.

“The Police would not have taken that action if these youths did not have a suspicious prior history. I’m sure that the Minister will not be sharing those details with the rest of us.

“If it is found that these two are not the sort of people we want in this country then where are we supposed to send them? Afghanistan is now virtually under siege. The obvious question must now be asked: what now, Minister?

“These queue jumpers have already virtually highjacked a captain at sea, and now we have some in prison here. This is the price of making policy for the sake of TV coverage. Ms Dalziel is the latest victim of Helen Clark’s recklessness and her making policy on the hoof. She now has a dilemma.

“New Zealanders are sick to death with this woolly approach to serious international matters that go to the core of this country’s long term security. We have an obligation to protect our own people, before that of any Tom, Dick, Harry, Mustaq or bin Laden who wants to come here,” concluded Mr Peters.

ENDS

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