Australians have been unlawfully charged for managed isolation stays in New Zealand because of an error in what the National Party is calling a shoddy law.
The government has passed legislation under urgency today to fix the problem, which it estimates affects up to 650 people.
The law was initially brought in in August to allow people to be charged for MIQ in certain circumstances, such as New Zealanders going overseas for short trips.
Australians coming into the country as critical workers were also charged but the law did not properly allow for that.
National Party Covid-19 response spokesperson Chris Bishop says it was frustrating to be sitting in parliament unnecessarily, debating the law retrospectively, when it should have been done properly in the first place.
"This is a shoddy bill, shoddily put together by this shoddy government," he says.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says it was regrettable to have to make the change, but it was purely technical and did not mark any change in government policy.
The intention was always that the Australians should have been charged and it was important to ensure their fees were valid, he says.
6 comments
WHO
Posted on 22-05-2021 07:26 | By Slim Shady
Everybody who has had to go through them has been unfairly charged. It’s a Public Health measure for the benefit of the wider public. The World Health Organisation criticised countries that charge people for quarantine stays and said it should be free. If people have to travel it is for a very good reason. It is just driven by resentful insular small mindedness. Not caring or compassionate at all. A disgraceful authoritarian fascist policy.
Shoddy?
Posted on 22-05-2021 08:34 | By Yadick
Surely if the law needed a legislative fix then it wasn't lawful at the time and then could not stand. Surely these 660 Aussies will be entitled to a full refund and apology for Labour unlawfully taking money from them?
Fascist?
Posted on 22-05-2021 08:36 | By DaveTheCynic
I think you need a dictionary, mate.
No sympathy
Posted on 22-05-2021 09:54 | By The Professor
No sympathy from me. The Australians are quick enough to rip Kiwis off e.g. take our taxes when working in Australia but then not offering benefits when needed. Regardless, everyone should be paying for their isolation, it shouldn't be down to the Kiwi taxpayers. There was plenty of opportunity towards the beginning of the pandemic to get home and to avoid isolation. Winston Peters gave a very clear warning to those people outside of NZ who wanted to return!!
@dave
Posted on 22-05-2021 10:08 | By Slim Shady
In what sense do I need a dictionary? In the same sense that you need an education? Left wing fascism is a not a concept I invented. Education is so important don’t you think?
Slim....
Posted on 22-05-2021 16:09 | By DaveTheCynic
Left wing fascism is not a thing.
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