New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have signaled progress towards resolving an issue related to Australia’s treatment of New Zealand citizens.
The Prime Minister of Australia and the Prime Minister of New Zealand met in Sydney on Friday. The meeting focused on making it easier for New Zealanders to obtain Australian citizenship.
Anthony Albanese said at the time that his government wanted to work to make it easier for New Zealanders to be granted Australian citizenship.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealanders should not be divided into ‘permanent and temporary’ living in Australia.
“We have long argued that New Zealanders are the best immigrants in Australia,” he told reporters after the meeting. We were asked to give more recognition to the role that New Zealanders play in Australia.
The Prime Minister of New Zealand expressed his displeasure that the previous Scott Morrison government had taken a tough stance on New Zealand citizens.
Between 1 January 2021 and 31 December of that year, 18 New Zealanders were deported from Australia. They were evicted using Section 501 of the Migration Act. Jacinda Ardern referred to Section 501 of the Australian Migration Act as a controversial section.
The Prime Minister of Australia, meanwhile, told the media that “more recognition of the rights of New Zealand citizens will be shown in Australia.”
‘We don’t want them to be temporary residents forever. We will work for the issue of citizenship ‘, he added.
The Australian prime minister said his government also wanted to see the right to vote for New Zealanders living in Australia.