By AUDREY YOUNG
Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel accused the news media of being "complicit" when they publish individuals' claims to refugee status.
She says she warned the Herald against running stories on Algerian Ahmed Zaoui "but they made the deliberate decision not to heed that warning". Such stories would be ignored
in assessing a claim.
She made her comments in a speech prepared for a meeting of the Refugee Association last night in Mt Eden.
The Herald learned last December that a suspected Algerian terrorist had been escorted under high security, including a helicopter escort, to Paremoremo after claiming refugee status at Auckland airport.
"People can use the media by getting their names and photographs into the paper or on the news and using this publicity to bolster their claim for refugee status, whether or not it is a genuine claim.
"Where this publicity is generated by the individual him or herself, it will be ignored, but I cannot seem to get through to the media that they are complicit in this activity if they publish such details prior to a claim being determined.
"They can never be sure, no matter who gives them the information, that the claimant, or someone assisting him or her, has not generated the media interest to assist in their claim."
The Refugee Appeals Authority granted Mr Zaoui refugee status but he remains in prison awaiting an appeal against a Security Risk Certificate being issued on him by the Director of Security.
If the appeal is upheld by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Mr Zaoui will be released.
If it is not, Ms Dalziel can deport Mr Zaoui to his port of origin - Vietnam.
Ms Dalziel spoke of the pride she felt two years ago when New Zealand decided to accept some of the asylum- seekers from the Tampa.
"I, for one, do not regret for one moment the role our Government played in providing a circuit breaker in the stand-off on the Tampa. It remains a day when I felt particularly proud to be a New Zealander."
But she said she could not be considered a "soft touch" for refugees. The year to June 30 saw the lowest number of people claiming refugee status in New Zealand since 1994.
New Zealand had been the target of "manifestly unfounded claims" over the past decade and she had nothing but contempt for those who abused the system.
