Australia’s deportation of criminals with almost no connection to New Zealand isn’t ‘fair dinkum’ and Kiwi Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she won’t let the issue go.
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 4000 people, including 1500 New Zealanders, since the laws were introduced in 2014.
Ms Ardern raised the issue yet again on Friday in a meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Melbourne.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured) has vowed not to continue raising the issue of Australia’s deportation policy of criminals, which has seen 1500 Kiwis sent back across the Tasman
Ms Ardern met with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Melbourne on Friday (pictured), the first meeting between the leaders of the two nations since the Christchurch terror attack
‘New Zealanders look at this policy and think “that’s not fair dinkum”,’ she told reporters of the Australian deportation process.
Mr Morrison made it clear the policy will not change, but Ms Ardern said she will keep raising it.
‘New Zealand absolutely accepts that Australia is within its right to deport those who have engaged in criminal activity in Australia,’ she said.
‘However… where individuals have little to no connection at all to New Zealand, who have for all intents and purposes grown up in Australia, and those are the cases we continue to raise at every level.’
Leaving the meeting, Mr Morrison did not answer a question on the deportation issue.
‘Progress for a lot of issues today. It was wonderful … it’s always a great relationship,’ he told reporters.
Earlier on Friday, Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton slammed Ms Ardern over her criticism of Australia’s deportation policy.
Ms Ardern said her biggest issue was that New Zealanders who moved to Australia as toddlers, only to grow up and commit crimes, have been regularly dumped back over the ditch once they get out of jail
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
‘We have been very clear, if you come as a New Zealand citizen, a Brit, wherever you come from, your country of origin is where you go back to if you have committed a crime,’ Mr Dutton told the Today Show.
‘From our perspective, from the Australian perspective, we need to stand up for Australians.
‘Where people are sexually offending against children for example, we have had a big push to try and deport those paedophiles.’
Labor leader Anthony Albanese said his party has no plans to change the policy.
‘We think that the balance is essentially right but it’s legitimate if there are issues for Jacinda Ardern to raise those with Scott Morrison,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘We don’t want to see this to be a partisan debate.’
Ms Ardern met with Mr Morrison in Melbourne on Friday, the first meeting between the leaders of the two nations since the Christchurch terror attack.
Mr Morrison gave Ms Ardern a soft toy rabbit and a book about Australian animals for her daughter Neve.
The Kiwi leader also spoke warmly about the relationship between the two nations.
Finks OMCG enforcer Jesse Johnston (pictured) was kicked out of Australia after getting out of prison in 2017
‘In the wake of Christchurch, the statement at the G20, the discussions about deployments – I really value the fact that neither of us hesitates to pick up the phone so I just want to acknowledge that,’ Ms Ardern said.
There was laughter and banter for the cameras and reference to Australia’s support for NZ in the final of the recent Cricket World Cup.
‘I’m not sure if NZ would have done the same if the role had been reversed,’ she quipped.
‘Our second-biggest trading partner, our biggest source of investment, but also our friends, so it’s great to be here with you – thanks for your hospitality.’