Ahead of a meeting in Brisbane with Chris Hipkins, the Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has announced that a direct pathway to citizenship will be opened to hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders. The current requirements, which include health and income tests and copious paperwork, will be ditched, meaning New Zealanders in Australia would become citizens after four years’ residency and thereby able to vote and eligible for welfare, disability and housing support. Around 380,00 are estimated to be immediately affected by the restoration of reciprocity, after John Howard’s government introduced a new visa category in 2001. Another 290,000 are on special category visas.
The Australian government described the change as “consistent with our ambition to build a fairer, better managed and more inclusive migration system.” Albanese said: “Australia and New Zealand have a deep friendship, which has been forged through our history, shared values and common outlook … We know that many New Zealanders are here on a Special Category Visa while raising families, working and building their lives in Australia. So I am proud to offer the benefits that citizenship provides.”
The New Zealand prime minister hailed a “historic day”. Hipkins said: “This is the biggest improvement in the rights of New Zealanders living in Australia in a generation and restores most of the rights Kiwis had in Australia before they were revoked in 2001. Successive New Zealand prime ministers have advocated for this change for two decades. It’s pleasing that the close relationship between leaders of two like-minded governments was instrumental in reaching this outcome.”
He said: “Today’s announcement brings our nations closer together … These changes will make a real and meaningful difference to the lives of many New Zealanders and their children by giving those who decide to take up Australian citizenship similar rights to Australians living in New Zealand.”
The changes, which kick in on July 1, apply to New Zealanders on temporary, special category, visas who have lived in Australia for four years, and meet the standard Australian citizenship criteria. Those in Australia since 2001 will be able to apply directly for citizenship without first gaining permanent residency. The fee will be Australian $490. New Zealand children born in Australia will become citizens at birth (rather than waiting till they turn 10). Those taking up Australian citizenship retain New Zealand citizenship.
ABC foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic said it was likely to go down as “a really significant moment in the relationship between Australia and New Zealand. We’ve basically taken their number one problem and … made some really substantial concessions.” He added: “I think that we are going to see a whole lot of good feeling blossom across the ditch and this will only do good things to the bilateral relationship so diplomatically it’s a win. The domestic political implications, though, in Australia are perhaps a little bit more complex.”
