The Guardian Australia reported on Friday Key was planning to send Turnbull an “extremely direct” message regarding the recent wave of New Zealand citizens deported from Australia under changes to the Migration Act late previous year.
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New Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the rules around the deportation of NZ-born Australians are “enshrined in statute”.
But in a reflection of the government’s shift towards incorporating elements of community engagement into existing counterterrorism efforts, Australian Counter Terrorism Coordinator Greg Moriarty, who is hosting the summit, told officials yesterday that “the most effective defence against terrorism” was better intervention programmes that prevented people from becoming radicalised in the first place.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has poured cold water on hopes of a policy change regarding the deportation of Kiwis, saying the country has to maintain its standards and security. Though Turnbull’s much more forthright in offering sympathy for those affected, he’s largely ignored passionate calls to use this as a turning point in policy.
Mr Uhlmann told Morning Report that Mr Turnbull’s handling of the deportee issue would be a key early test of his ability to juggle global and domestic politics. “We do have a principle which is enshrined in statute, that people who have been convicted, foreigners who have been convicted of serious criminal offences, have the automatic revocation of their visa”.
Around 200 Kiwis are now in Australian detention centres due to past offending, with 40 on Christmas Island.
“New Zealanders in detention are being bullied by guards, there is a lack of access to medical treatment, they are not able access legal support and a number are subject to arbitrary detention”, New Zealand Greens spokeswoman on human rights, Catherine Delahunty said.
Mr Key is in much the same position now.
Key estimated about 1,000 New Zealanders could be deported under the tougher immigration laws.
“Anybody can return to New Zealand tomorrow if they want, but, in a few cases, they will be here for a prolonged period because they are appealing the cancellation through the courts”, the immigration minister said. “One where we are all calling for greater respect for Australian woman and another where women who are clearly our responsibility are routinely assaulted and then silenced when they cry out for help”.
The government is particularly concerned about Kiwis who went to Australia when they were very young and grew up there, no longer having family or other connections with New Zealand.
The expectation management at this stage suggest neither of those practical solutions will be announced this weekend; more likely Turnbull might agree to look into the matter, “hear” New Zealand’s concerns and buy himself a few time politically to tweak his law next year when people aren’t looking quite as hard.
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New Zealand’s opposition leader, Andrew Little, has warned Key against treading lightly when discussing the issue with Turnbull.
