Cabinet has approved ten-year work permits, but Immigration Minister David Burch said today he will not issue any.

At a press conference this afternoon on work visas to foreign nationals, Senator Burch was asked when the extended work permits for key workers were likely to be issued. He replied: “I’m not issuing any.”

The Minister went on to say he was “irritated” at conflicting messages he was getting from the business community, who were giving him one message but then giving the media a different one.

He said he was annoyed at people’s “hypocrisy”. “I want people to be honest and then not to criticise what I say,” he said.

He added: “It is a recommendation approved by Cabinet and one we took forward.”

* For the full story, see tomorrow’s The Royal Gazette.