Jacinda Ardern meets Anthony Albanese: 501s, China in Pacific, climate …

Posted: June 11, 2022 at 2:03 am

On the agenda will be everything from the usual gripes around 501 deportations and Kiwis' rights in Australia, to China's growing presence in the Pacific, and climate change.

The issue of deporting people to New Zealand who have few ties here will likely be the most followed by Kiwis, particularly given the current spike in gang tensions.

"I am very clear with any Australian administration that this is a significant issue for New Zealand," Ardern said at her weekly post-Cabinet press conference on Monday.

"We accept that Australia has a deportation policy, because New Zealand has a deportation policy. Our concern has been, we have seen some of the really extreme examples, those who have little to no connection to New Zealand, who are being deported into New Zealand, and then we see the consequences of their anti-social behaviour and their lack of connection here at home."

Ardern repeatedly raised the Australia's 501 deportation policy with former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, even going as far as to call him out for deporting "your people and your problems" while standing just metres from him at a Sydney press conference.

Despite that, there was no progress. Newshub revealed earlier this year that so-called 501 deportees have been convicted of more than 8000 offences in New Zealand since 2015.

Section 501 of Australia's Migration Act has long been a significant point of contention between Canberra and Wellington. It allows Australia to send people back to their home country if they don't pass a character test - such as going to prison for more than 12 months - regardless of whether they still have links to that nation.

The Prime Minister may find more favour with Albanese than she did with Morrison, who was well-known for his hardline immigration stance.

The Guardian reported ahead of the Australian election that Labor could tweak the country's immigration rules so decisions around deportation better take into account the length of time someone has been in Australia.

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Jacinda Ardern meets Anthony Albanese: 501s, China in Pacific, climate ...

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