NZ Hearld’s Political Reporter Lucy Bennett wrote a article on New Zealanders living in Australia and what effect the up coming election could have for us.

The Labour party has pledged to champion the rights of 650,000 New Zealanders living in Australia if they win the election.

Australia’s living in NZ have the same rights as us from arrival to a maximum of five years after living in New Zealand. Where kiwis are not eligible for unemployment or sickness benefits, student allowances and have no clear/simple path to permanent residency or citizenship.

New Zealand has been pushing for equal rights since the law changed in 2001 when the Howard government stopped granting New Zealanders permanent residence on arrival. Those who arrived before 26 February 2001 are permanent residents with access to social security and student loans.

Even though ALP’s National Policy Platform says there is an inequity for New Zealand citizens living in Australia under the terms of the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangements (TTTA). It is low on most party’s agenda’s because New Zealanders can not vote.

So lets cross our fingers for Australia’s Labour party, because that is all we can do, and hope that equality for New Zealanders living in Australia is only an election away.

You can read the NZ Hearld full article here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12226666.

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