Anzac path to citizenship
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has secured a significant policy win, with Australia agreeing to a new path to citizenship for New Zealanders living in Australia, with options to be in place by Anzac Day 2023.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his meeting with Ardern yesterday in Sydney marked a ‘‘reset’’ in the trans-Tasman relationship.
The changes announced will coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Closer Economic Relations Treaty, and be a serious shot in the arm for trans-Tasman relations and the free flow of citizens across the borders.
In addition to the new citizenship pathway, Albanese also said Australia would be applying a ‘‘commonsense approach’’ to 501 deportees, particularly those with little or no relationship to New Zealand.
While Albanese said Australia would continue to deport people ‘‘where appropriate’’, he signalled a significant shift in how the policy would be applied.
‘‘We will have some commonsense apply here where you have a circumstance where someone has lived their entire life, effectively, in Australia with no connection whatsoever to New Zealand.’’
Albanese also indicated that New Zealanders that have lived in Australia for a year may also get voting rights.
‘‘Both leaders agreed that no New Zealander or Australian should be rendered permanently ‘‘temporary’’ when it comes to residence in either country, and agreed to ensure viable pathways to citizenship,’’ the leaders said in a joint statement.
It said that both nations would ‘‘identify options to provide citizens of both countries better access to opportunities and benefits and enable more enduring social and economic integration outcomes by Anzac Day 2023’’.
Ardern and Albanese, along with a handful of senior ministers, have been discussing various issues at the AustraliaNew Zealand leadership meeting.
‘‘Today’s meeting was an important step in resetting the relationship and was very positive,’’ Albanese said.