In-house immigration white-wash condemned

The internal Department of Labour investigation into Immigration Service responses to queries from the Ombudsman has been condemned as "an in-house whitewash in the making" by National Party Immigration spokesman Murray McCully.

"The internal investigation will satisfy no one," he says.

"This is a very serious matter.

"An Immigration Service official has asserted in writing that there was and agreement for officials to 'lie in unison'.

"That assertion is supported by an untruthful answer to the Herald last December, and the apparent bid to mislead the Ombudsman by officials as to the existence of the original memo," says Mr McCully.

"This matter goes to the heart of the credibility of the public service, and public confidence in the integrity of officials.

"No one will be satisfied with the results of an in-house investigation of officials by their own boss on a matter of such importance," says Mr McCully.

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