Nats consider Aussie deportation policy

The National Party says it will explore tough new laws to deport Australians who are convicted of serious crimes in New Zealand.

It comes as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gets set to meet with Australia’s prime minister Scott Morrison on Friday, where she will raise their deportation policy she ‘‘fiercely disagrees’’ with.

Opposition Leader Simon Bridges told Stuff, the reality was Australia was not going to change its position in the foreseeable future. If elected, a National government would look at a reciprocal deportation law but has not committed to any changes.

He said his party would explore a policy based on amendments to Australia’s Migration Act in 2014 that allows for people to have their visas cancelled on character grounds. ‘‘It is the legal right of the Australian Government to deport Kiwi criminals, however, we have the same rights and it is my view New Zealand needs to explore how a reciprocal policy could work.’’

There was no doubt the deportations and the 501s were part of the picture of the supercharging of the gangs and organised crime problem in New Zealand, he said.

In July 2019, Ardern put the deportation laws on top of her agenda for bilateral talks with Morrison, saying it was having a ‘‘corrosive effect’’ on the relationship between the two countries.

At her post Cabinet press conference yesterday, Ardern was asked if she would consider reciprocal deportation.

‘‘If we think this policy is wrong, why would we then repeat it . . . I think Mr Bridges’ position is naive,’’ she said. Australia was within its rights but that did but not mean it was right, she said.

‘‘I don’t think I should sit back and ignore that . . . it continues to be a policy I fiercely disagree with.

‘‘It is wrong and I will continue to raise that.’’ She said New Zealand already had the ability and did deport criminals.

Ahead of her trip this week, Ardern was asked if the Australian Government had softened its stance on deportations since she pointed out it was not in keeping with ‘‘the spirit of our friendship’’.

Almost 2000 people have been deported since late 2014.

It had changed the way the policy had been put into operation, she said. ‘‘There is better information sharing before people are deported and so that flow is working better. There have been some changes to appeal processes, so I don’t think it is fair to say it has made no difference but the policy itself, we still have a problem with,’’ Ardern said.

Almost 2000 people have been deported to New Zealand since Australia began hardline enforcement of a populist immigration policy in late 2014. The changes made to Australia’s Migration Act in 2014 included deportation of a foreigner who is or may be a risk to the health, safety or good order of the Australian community.

It also included section 501 – deportation if a person was ‘‘not of good character’’. The deportees – many of whom have not lived in New Zealand for decades – are blamed for a rise in crime.