Andrew Dickens Afternoons

LISTEN ABOVE AS NEWSTALK ZB POLITICAL EDITOR BARRY SOPER SPEAKS TO ANDREW DICKENSThe Government will lift the annual refugee quota to 1500.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the increase will not take place immediately, but from July 2020.The increase is 500 more than the current quota of 1000, which took effect from July this year.Ardern was joined by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway to make the announcement. The decision was made by the Cabinet committee today, she said.The refugee quota became an issue of contention recently after conflicting comments from Peters and Ardern on whether it would be raised.Winston Peters, Jacinda Ardern and Iain Lees-Galloway at today's announcement.But Peters said he supported today's decision.Ardern said the timing meant that preparations could be made to ensure refugees were well-supported when they arrived."I'm proud that the Coalition Government has today agreed to make such a significant and historic increase to the annual