Discussion needed

Alarmingly I expect to wake up to the Daily News around the December 14 to read that NZ is now signed up to the United Nations global compact on migration. With no involvement of the public, no discussion in Parliament and no publicity of intentions, NZ will be party to an agreement that is full of very fine words on the surface but conceals appalling reality beneath.

It says its directives are not binding, but once signed a country has to be extremely naive to believe the pressure to conform will not be overwhelming. Some sovereignty of New Zealand will be lost to the control of the increasingly discredited UN. Signatories must create a new legal framework wherein immigration is a universal human right. The UN will prioritise migrants, who must be given all the benefits that the country can offer. (Open doors and no such thing as an illegal migrant). All forms of discrimination must be ‘‘eliminated’’. Media outlets must ‘‘promote evidence-based public discourse to shape perceptions of migrants.’’ Rewarded for this, but shut down if they allow any criticism. Free speech criticising immigration becomes criminalised hate speech.

So much that is unwise. As other countries look at this agreement more closely they are refusing to sign. The PM of Italy has emphasised that its effect is so great that it must be discussed publicly. At least 12 countries including Australia, America, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Israel and Italy will not be signing it.

We in New Zealand hear nothing. This is almost scary. Why the silence over an agreement that has the power to change New Zealand forever?

A government’s first duty is to protect their people.

This agreement should not be signed until full public consultation and parliamentary discussion has taken place.

Lenna C Wall, New Plymouth

Media Council