June 21, 2016
Room for both refugees and homeless
Manurewa MP Louisa Wall says the Government is falling down in its responsibility to house people whether it’s refugees, Maori or other New Zealanders.
It’s world refugee day, when attention is focussed on the more than 65 million people who have been displaced by war, famine or other unrest – including more than 7 million people fleeing Syria.
She understands why some Maori question why New Zealand brings refugees in when there are not enough houses for people already here, but it’s part of this country’s responsibilities.
"Government should be to do many things at the same time and we shouldn't be competing or see it as a competition between us, a global citizen and a member of the United Nations, versus the inaction of the government in terms of meeting the needs of people who are homeless," she says.
Louisa Wall says raising New Zealand’s refugee quota from 750 to 1000 in two year’s time is a paltry response, especially when the upgraded Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre can handle the 1500 refugees a year Labour is calling for.
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