Jacinda Ardern has opened up on her friendship with Scott Morrison, her views on Donald Trump and her life as a mother in a candid interview with Lisa Wilkinson.
The New Zealand Prime Minister appeared on The Sunday Project while on her first official visit to Australia this week.
Ms Ardern was asked about her thoughts on the country’s controversial deportation policy on New Zealand criminals which she had previously described as ‘corrosive.’
‘Look, I think we should be fair. The deportation policy has existed for a while,’ Ms Ardern began to say, appearing to stumble over her response.
Wilkinson then interjected: ‘Scott Morrison is the architect.’
‘That is correct. When you’re friends as we are, we can speak frankly with each other,’ Ms Ardern replied.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern spoke about her relationship with Scott Morrison as well as her life as a mother in an interview on The Sunday Project
Leaving the meeting, Mr Morrison did not answer a question on the deportation issue but has previously vowed not to back down on the policy
She told The Project’s Lisa Wilkinson the two speak ‘frankly’ with each other
‘Ultimately, that is in the hands of the Australian government. It’s not going to stop us raising it.
‘Australia is utterly within its rights to deport those who have committed criminal offences that are rightly New Zealand citizens. We do the same.
‘There are just a handful cases though, where there’s no real depth of length to New Zealand. In fact, for all intents and purposes, most people would describe them as being primarily, Australians. Those are the cases I would consider corrosive.’
New Zealanders who moved to Australia as toddlers, only to grow up and commit crimes, have been regularly dumped back over the ditch sparking anger from across the Tasman.
Australia has deported 4,000 people, including 1,500 New Zealanders, since the laws were introduced in 2014.
Ms Ardern raised the issue on Friday in a meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Melbourne.
During the interview, Wilkinson highlighted the contrast between Australia and New Zealand policies, pointing out Ms Ardern’s decision to offer places to Manus refugees that Australia doesn’t want.
‘You make the point on a matter of principle, and that’s the way I think Australia deals with us as well. We had tricky issues before. We’ll continue to do so, we have it on citizenship issues,’ she said.
Ms Ardern, who recently became engaged to partner Clarke Gayford, also opened up on her personal life, revealing she has yet to plan a wedding or even resize her ring
She is still wearing her ring on her middle finger
‘I don’t think it ultimately lessens the nature of our relationship. I think it speaks to the strength of it, that we do speak so openly.’
Ms Ardern also addressed her strong feelings on US President Donald Trump’s recent controversial remarks on four non-white US congresswoman who he said should ‘go back’ to the countries they came from.
She clarified she did not usually comment on domestic politics but felt compelled to speak out against Trump ‘for stoking a sense of fear.’
‘It was just obvious the view I’d have on that. I do think we should celebrate our diversity. In New Zealand, we do. By and large, we do. All I can do is reflect the values we have.’
Ms Ardern, who recently became engaged to partner Clarke Gayford, also opened up on her personal life, revealing she has yet to plan a wedding or even resize her ring.
‘I haven’t even had time to resize the beautiful ring he gave me. It’s still on the middle finger,’ she quipped.
It was reported on May 3, 2019 that New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is engaged to her long-term partner Clarke Gayford
Ms Ardern, who gave birth to daughter Neve in June 2018, admitted she has had ‘a lot of help’ in raising her child while in public office
When asked if she knew the proposal was coming, she replied: ‘If I did, I probably wouldn’t have been wearing sweats.
‘Clarke’s mum put it into an Easter egg for him to give to me. We hiked up this mountain…..He asked me first and then handed me the egg.’
Ms Ardern, who gave birth to daughter Neve in June 2018, admitted she has had ‘a lot of help’ in raising her child while in public office.
‘Clarke, obviously, is our primary care giver,’ she said, adding that two ‘utilise our mums a lot.’
‘No-one needs to see anyone pretending it’s easy, because it’s not.
‘I’m not going to go around pretending I do everything, that somehow I’m this wonder woman. I’m not. It’s hard.
‘People who are raising children deserve to have help and support and we shouldn’t pretend it can be done alone.’