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Ardern takes aim at Aust deportations

Dominica Sanda and Paul OsborneAAP
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has taken aim at Australia's deportation of criminals.
Camera IconNew Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has taken aim at Australia's deportation of criminals.

Scott Morrison has stood his ground over Australia's deportation policy of criminals after New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern bluntly said it was "testing" their friendship.

Ms Ardern used a media conference in Sydney alongside her Australian counterpart to lash out at Mr Morrison over the policy, under which about 2000 criminals have been sent back to New Zealand.

"Australia is well within its rights to deport individuals who break your laws. New Zealand does the same. But we have a simple request - send back Kiwis, genuine Kiwis," she said as she stood side by side with Mr Morrison in the gardens of Kirribilli House.

"Do not deport your people and your problems."

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She said many of the deportees "on any common sense test" identified as being Australian.

"They have grown up in Australia, that is their home and that is where they should stay," she said.

"The New Zealand and Australia relationship is being tested."

But Mr Morrison didn't budge on Australia's rules which he said were very clear.

"We deport non-citizens who have committed crimes in Australia against our community," he said.

"This policy is applied not specific to one country, but to any country whose citizens are here."

He said if New Zealanders don't take up the opportunity to become Australian citizens and commit a crime "then you have no right to stay."

The Liberal leader said he respected Ms Ardern's position but noted it was not in Australia's interest.

"It doesn't matter how long you've been here, it doesn't matter whether you turned up yesterday, or many years ago. If you are not a citizen of Australia and you violate our laws, then under my government's policies you will not be allowed to remain in Australia," Mr Morrison said.

He added that he expects the same rules to apply if Australian citizens commit crimes in another country.

The NZ leader conceded that of the people who had been deported, some should face the consequences of their actions, but some she said were too young to become criminals before they crossed the Tasman.

"We will own our people, we ask that Australia stop exporting theirs," she said.

The NZ leader also pleaded with the Morrison government to provide more rights to New Zealanders working in Australia, such as the ability to work as a public servant or access the national disability insurance scheme.

The two leaders also discussed the coronavirus, which Ms Ardern said dominated their discussions, as well as climate change, greater cooperation on indigenous issues, trade and security.

Ms Ardern, who arrived in Sydney on Thursday after visiting Fiji, said she spoke to Mr Morrison about the discussions she had with Pacific leaders on climate change.

New Zealand is held up as a great ally on climate issues in the Pacific while Australia is criticised for promoting fossil fuels.

Ms Ardern noted both New Zealand and Australia are clear on their "very different" climate policies while Mr Morrison said they both understand the need to take action on climate change.

Both Mr Morrison and Ms Ardern noted their countries have gone through tragedy and disaster in the past year including the Christchurch mosque shooting, the White Island volcano eruption and Australia's devastating summer of bushfires.

"They say in moments of that nature the true character of a person comes to the fore and I believe the same can be said for nations," Ms Ardern said.

"In that vein Australia has proven again to be the closest of friends to us."

Earlier on Friday Ms Ardern met with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian at parliament house where the NZ leader said her country felt "very deeply" for the state during the bushfires.

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