Deporting criminals back to New Zealand looks set to continue after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern failed to agree on the controversial policy.
The two leaders met at Kirribilli House for talks following a friendly dinner on Thursday night attended by Ms Ardern’s partner, Clarke, and Mr Turnbull’s wife Lucy.
Ardern, 37, took Mr Turnbull to task on his policy of sending Kiwi citizens back who have ‘never set foot in New Zealand’ during discussions in Sydney on Friday.
But Prime Minister Turnbull was having none of it, saying ‘yes’ it is a moral thing to do when questioned by reporters.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern failed to agree on Australia’s policy of deporting New Zealand criminals.
‘It is our fundamental right, as Prime Minister Ardern has just acknowledged, and we enforce our laws to assert our sovereignty and ensure that people who are not Australian citizens who commit serious offences are deported,’ he said.
Ms Ardern, pregnant with her first child, said she made Mr Turnbull aware of their ‘strength of feeling on it’.
‘I’ve raised again, as we have on previous occasions, elements of the deportation policy that have been brought to our attention,’ she said.
Ms Ardern, pregnant with her first child, said she made Mr Turnbull aware of her countries strength of feeling on the issue
Mr Turnbull, left, posted a selfie on Instagram with Ms Ardern, his wife Lucy and Ms Ardern’s partner Clarke on Thursday night saying ‘thanks for joining us for dinner tonight’
The two leaders met at Kirribilli House for talks following a friendly dinner on Thursday night attended by Ms Ardern’s partner, Clarke, and Mr Turnbull’s wife Lucy.
‘Where for instance, someone has never set foot in New Zealand…it’s something where we are keen to make sure the Australian Government is aware of our perspective on that and our strength of feeling on it.
‘But ultimately, it is in the Australian Government’s hands to determine how they manage that element of the policy.’
Mr Turnbull said Australia’s policy does not apply just to New Zealanders, but to all non-citizens.
Mr Turnbull said Australia’s policy does not apply just to New Zealanders, but to all non-citizens.
At one point during the press conference, when Ms Ardern was interrupted by adoring fans
Mr Turnbull said: ‘You’ve got some fans, Prime Minister, you should wave to them
Aside from this disagreement, the two Prime Minister’s looked content as they spoke to reporters outside at Kiribilli House.
At one point during the press conference, when Ms Ardern was interrupted by adoring fans Mr Turnbull said: ‘You’ve got some fans, Prime Minister, you should wave to them.’
The two leaders agreed to cooperate on cyber-security, sustainable cities, and indigenous entrepreneurship.
A New Zealand parliamentary committee last week was told 1023 deportees had been sent back in the last two years and 44 per cent of them had reoffended.
Ms Ardern admitted it’s in the Australian Government’s hands to determine how they manage that element of the policy
As of late January, there were 170 New Zealanders, including 17 women, in Australian immigration detention whose visas were automatically revoked following a December 2014 crackdown on foreign-born convicted criminals.
Foreigners who have served more than 12 months in Australian jails have been steadily rounded up for deportation.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Turnbull’s office for comment.
Ms Ardern and Mr Turnbull agreed to cooperate on cyber-security, sustainable cities, and indigenous entrepreneurship