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Of interest to those seeking residency in New Zealand could be the changes to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC).
The changes, which come into effect on 1 December, are:
- Increasing the level of points allocated to skilled employment, qualifications and work experience in areas of absolute skill shortage
- Expanding and clarifying the definition of skilled employment to enable a broader skill mix to qualify for residence
- Clarifying the ability to grant permanent residence upfront where an applicant has high potential to contribute and settle (rather than in "exceptional circumstances")
- Recognising a broader range of qualifications where they meet industry needs
- Clarifying the definition of contract employment
- Including points for having close family support in New Zealand.
Our first priority will always be to get New Zealanders into work. But at 4 percent unemployment, skills and labour shortages are emerging. Quality migrants can help fill those gaps.
The SMC shifts New Zealand's skilled immigration policy from the passive acceptance of residence applications to one that actively recruits the skilled migrants that New Zealand needs.
It is starting to deliver results but the Government recognises that more flexibility is needed.
More information on these enhancements are available at www.immigration.govt.nz.
I join Associate Communications and Information Technology Minister David Cunliffe in backing Vodafone and Telecom's decision to establish a mobile phone safety code of practice.
This is an important step for protecting children. The Government will work with the Telecommunications Carriers Forum to make sure they have any legal backing they need.
Safety concerns about mobile phone chat rooms were raised after a journalist posing as a 13-year-old girl received a number of sexually oriented approaches from older men.
David met with the leading mobile phone providers who agreed to approach the Telecommunications Carriers Forum to set up a code of practice to protect children while using services such as text chat rooms.
The Government will consider whether current laws will need to be changed to allow authorities to investigate inappropriate behaviour but the willingness of the mobile phone providers to act quickly has been very pleasing.
It is not easy for parents to monitor who their children are texting or chatting to, so this is a step in the right direction.
Another is passing the Bill closing the current loophole where women who commit sex offences against children are able to escape the law.
The Law and Order Select Committee has reported the Crimes Amendment Bill (No. 2) back to Parliament, clearing the way for the Bill to be passed through its final stages early next year.
The Crimes Amendment Bill significantly toughens the law against both males and females who commit predatory sex offences against children and young people under the age of 16.
The maximum penalty for sexual connection with a young person aged between 12 and 16 will be increased by three years, from seven to 10 years jail.
The time limit for prosecuting such offences will also be removed.
The Bill provides no defence of similarity of age, which is a defence in many western countries. However police practice has been to not seek prosecution when the relationship is consensual and the parties have been of similar age.
Under existing law, a defence exists where there is a genuine mistaken belief in age which can be proved. Changes are made by toughening the requirement so that the older person must have taken steps to verify the younger person's age.
If no such steps were taken, no defence can be claimed.
The arbitrary age over which this defence could be claimed is also removed as it is contradictory to the Bill of Rights. It does not make sense for one person aged under 21 to be able to claim a defence while another person a few days or weeks older would be automatically guilty despite also having made a genuine mistake.
The offence of sex connection with someone under care and protection is broadened into a new offence of familial sexual abuse. This provides protection for young people up to the age of 18 against caregivers with power and authority over them, who exploit that authority to have a sexual relationship with those under their care.
In line with submissions by CCS, there is no longer a blanket prohibition on people who are intellectually disabled having sexual relationships, as long as their disability is not such that they cannot give or refuse their consent.
The definition of rape, which is currently a specific male against female offence only, had been given considerable focus by the select committee.
In the end, a majority both of submitters and committee members on balance favoured retaining the status quo.
This is a good Bill which will improve the law's protection for society's most vulnerable against sexual predators, be they male or female. This Bill spent seven months at select committee; was the subject of public submissions, and attracted considerable media attention. It has been given extremely detailed examination.
This is Guy Fawkes week so please take care around fireworks. Remember to think safety first and watch children as you let off your fireworks.
Also remember to take care of your pets and other animals.
Finally my thanks to Wairarapa Road Safety co-ordinator Brian Barnes for his more than 12 years service.
I have worked closely with Brian on several projects during my time as Carterton Mayor and also Wairarapa MP and I thank him for his dedication and commitment to making our roads safer.
Brian has taken up a job with Tararua District Council so I expect our paths will still cross as he moves to the northern end of the electorate.
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