Statistics New Zealand have reported today that the net loss of
migrants to Australia in the July 2012 year was 39,800. This equals
the highest ever net loss to Australia, previously recorded in both
the April 2012 and June 2012 years. The July 2012 annual figure
resulted from 53,900 departures to Australia (a record), offset by
14,000 arrivals from Australia. In both directions, most migrants
were New Zealand citizens.

Peter Conway, CTU Secretary said that it appears the Government has
no plan to address this outflow.

"Before being elected the Government was quick to criticise the
emigration of Kiwis to Australia. But now it appears to regard this
loss as business as usual".

Peter Conway said that workers will stay here if there are enough
jobs that pay well and provide decent conditions of work. That
means we need to lift the minimum wage, promote industry bargaining
which in Australia covers 60 percent of the workforce compared with
18 percent here, and boost productivity while ensuring the benefits
flow to workers.

"Instead we are seeing bosses getting big pay increases here while
there is an increasing trend towards casualisation and mistreatment
of workers, including low-paid migrants."