How will the Australia-New Zealand relationship change? – RNZ

Australia has a new political leader at the helm after nine years governed by conservatives.

Anthony Albanese, Jacinda Ardern Photo: AFP / RNZ

Anthony Albanese will be sworn in today as the country's new prime minister, becoming the fourth Labor leader to win government from opposition since World War II.

So what does the change of hands mean for New Zealand?

Australia is much more hooked in to the United States and its desire to see security blankets wrapped around different parts of the Indo-Pacific, University of Auckland professor of politics Jennifer Curtin told Morning Report.

"We know that Anthony Albanese is heading to Tokyo for the Quad meetings with the prime ministers of Japan, India and the president of the US.

"They'll be looking for New Zealand to sort of perhaps come in behind the Quad positions and AUKUS and be a firm ally rather than what the narrative in Australia is at different times which is that New Zealand looks a little too soft on China but also a little bit reticent in defence expenditure and contributing to the security of the region."

In the coming 12 months there will be opportunities to talk more about New Zealand pulling towards the United States and away from China, inlcuding how that may be navigated, she said.

"We know that next year is the 40 year anniversary of the closer economic relations agreement between Australia and New Zealand and there will be some events and some opportunities to have some of those conversations."

There might be some complicated conversations around China, Curtin says, but there are a lot of areas for productive working relationships.

"There will be some really valuable relationships that will be built between Senator Penny Wong, who's the foreign affairs minister, and Nanaia Mahuta. They have a lot of similar interests on indigenous representation in foreign affairs and trade policy, in resetting the Pacific focus so that climate change and sustainable trade became important issues."

Anthony Albanese says he wants "no one left behind" and "no one held back" under his leadership - and New Zealanders in Australia told RNZ they hoped the new prime minister would be more empathetic towards non-citizens.

Nurse Jacqui May moved over from Aotearoa in 2016 for a pay rise, but when she was injured at work, she was ineligible for social welfare support from Centrelink - the equivalent of the Ministry of Social Development.

She hoped under the new government, all Centrelink supports would be made available to New Zealanders employed in Australia.

"It is unjust, if people are in financial hardship and then they cannot access any funds then what are they meant to do? There's enough homelessness as it is with the rental crisis and the stress."

Albanese gave her hope in his victory speech when he said: "I have shared the two principles that will a government that I lead. No one left behind because we should always look after the disadvantaged and the vulnerable. But also no one held back because we should always support aspiration and opportunity."

She said he was showing "compassion and empathy" and "Scott Morrison didn't have that".

Sydney resident Rihari Joseph (Ngti Maniapoto) hoped the new government would cut back 501 deportations, and keep families together with support networks instead.

Under Morrison's leadership, hundreds of non-citizens with criminal convictions have been forced to leave, under section 501 of the Australian Migration Act.

"We need to educate them and rehabilitate them, sending them back to New Zealand is not a positive outcome," Joseph said.

"Regardless of the errors they make in life, they're still our people."

Ex-Aucklander Christine Kennedy, who now lives in Melbourne, said the deportations were "cruelty".

"I think it's really unfair that the Australian government allows New Zealanders to work here, to pay taxes, to do everything else, and then says: 'Oh by the way, you broke the law, you can go back.'"

The Australian government estimates there are more than 650,000 New Zealand citizens living across the states and territories.

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How will the Australia-New Zealand relationship change? - RNZ