Opposition pushes minister on Sroubek
The Opposition is questioning whether another member of the Sroubek family will be granted ‘‘ministerial favour’’.
Karel Sroubek was handed an unprecedented get-out-of-jail card in getting residency, instead of being deported after serving his prison sentence.
Immigration Minister Iain LeesGalloway made the special decision, even though the 37-year-old Czech national came to New Zealand on a false passport and is now serving time in prison for importing drugs with a street value of $375,000.
The convicted drug smuggler’s mother is currently in the country and National’s immigration spokesman Michael Woodhouse questioned if she too would get ministerial help.
Woodhouse said he had been told Sroubek’s mother was seeking permanent residency and that raised questions about what special directions might be granted by the minister.
Sroubek’s mother arrived in New Zealand in August and spoke publicly in support of her son and confirmed that he had returned to the Czech Republic, he said.
During questions in the House yesterday, Woodhouse asked LeesGalloway if Sroubek’s mother was granted a
Parent Category visa on arrival and if he had been asked for a special direction to grant her a visa.
He asked what progress had been made on the currently suspended Parent
Category visa, which was temporarily closed to new applications in
2016.
Lees-Galloway responded saying he was currently considering advice from officials on the timing and conditions under which the category may be reopened and queued applications selected for assessment.
He said he had ‘‘absolutely no idea’’ what visa she was on and he had not been asked to give special direction.
Woodhouse then asked what assurance he could give to the thousands of parents of hard-working recent migrants that any application by Sroubek’s mother to remain in New Zealand permanently would not be favoured over their own?
‘‘Oh, I would imagine that immigration officials would consider every application on its merits and it would be dealt with appropriately,’’ Lees-Galloway said.
After Question Time, Woodhouse said his sources told him Sroubek and his mother intended to remain in New Zealand.
However, given the parent visa category had not been reopened, Sroubek’s mother may require ministerial direction to do so, he said.
‘‘This is while thousands of parents of recent migrants are having to wait for this Government to reopen the category, and other law-abiding immigrants fight to remain here.
‘‘Given the murky circumstances surrounding this case, I call on the minister to reassure New Zealanders that no further favours will be granted to this family.’’