Trans-Tasman relationship sinks to a new low as New Zealand’s deputy PM lets fly at ‘disrespectful’ Peter Dutton after Jacinda Ardern’s deportations rant
- Jacinda Ardern used a press conference to attack Australian deportation policy
- Peter Dutton said New Zealand Prime Minister’s comments were for political gain
- NZ deputy PM slammed Mr Dutton’s comments, calling them ‘disrespectful’
- Home Affairs Minister has ‘no regrets’ over criminals having their visas cancelled
New Zealand’s deputy prime minister lashed out at Peter Dutton for ‘disrespecting’ Jacinda Ardern following her rant about the country’s deportation laws.
Winston Peters criticised Mr Dutton after the Australian Home Affairs Minister said the New Zealand Prime Minister’s attack on Australia’s deportation laws was a bid to gain support ahead of New Zealand’s upcoming election.
Ms Ardern used a joint press conference with Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week to attack the policy of deporting criminals from Australia after about 2,000 were sent back to New Zealand.
‘Do not deport your people and your problems,’ she said.
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Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton (pictured) was criticised by NZ deputy PM Winston Peters for his comments about Jacinda Ardern
New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters (pictured) slammed Mr Dutton’s comments that Ms Ardern was attacking Australia’s deportation laws for political gain
The Home Affairs Minister said her comments were ‘regrettable’ but he did not back down from the policy.
‘I sleep well at night knowing that deporting pedophiles from our shores mean more Australian children won’t fall victim to that pedophile,’ Mr Dutton told The Australian on Tuesday.
‘And I’d want to make sure that we have a great migration system.’
Mr Peters rejected claims that Ms Ardern brought up the deportations for her own political gain.
‘He’s wrong…Of all countries, Australia should understand the unfairness of deportation for so-called crime reasons,’ he told ABC radio.
‘Australians believe in a fair go. And fair play. If they knew what was going on here, I think they wouldn’t support it either.
‘When you send back people who have been in Australia since year one or year two, you’ve lost the plot.’
He then said New Zealanders didn’t abuse Australia following the horrific Christchurch terrorist attack which saw 51 Muslims killed.
However, Mr Dutton said Ms Ardern should focus on the interest of her people while he focuses on Australians.
‘If you’re born in Australia and you commit an offence in any part of the world, you can expect to be deported back to Australia, and that’s the responsibility of any sovereign nation,’ he said on Sky News.
‘But for us, we have 99 per cent of people who come here who do the right thing.
‘But if you’re a non-citizen coming to our country and you’re assaulting an Australian, you’re breaking in, you’re stealing… then you can expect to have your visa cancelled and be deported.’
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speak to the media during a press conference at Admiralty House in Sydney
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