By Samantha Semoso – EMTV Online
New Zealand’s opposition parties are becoming increasingly concerned about the way New Zealanders living in Australia are being treated under the new immigration laws.
NZ opposition parties are calling for government’s action as there is increasing concern about the detention and deportation of Kiwis living in Australia.
Since December, anyone who isn’t Australian citizen and who has served a 12-month jail sentence can be deported.
It was reported that up to 75 New Zealanders and Pacific islanders are being detained on Christmas Island – it has also been told 20 arrived in the past few days.
It has also been reported 10 days ago that since December, 406 kiwis have had their visas cancelled, 95 had been deported and 184 were in detention centres.
On the same day, Prime Minister John Key said the policy was “too harsh” and he intended talking to Australia’s new Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, about it.
Two days earlier, Keys said the government wanted more information about the deportees.
“My real point is that, some people may well be deported to New Zealand who are not serious criminals, and who have no family, no connections, no framework in New Zealand,” he said.
“That wouldn’t be great for them.”
Justice Ministers in both governments are working on a memorandum of understanding to improve information sharing, but it’s made slow progress.
