It seems from his recent interview with the ABC that NZ Foreign Minister Murray McCully still doesnt get it. He frames the concerns of New Zealanders in Australia almost totally around issues of welfare access. Indeed, he does not even mention citizenship or voting rights. He says the NZ Government is having respectful conversations with Australia on this issue and that he fully respects the right of Australia to set whatever policies it likes. We fail to see how these respectful conversations are achieving anything of substance. Whilst the Key Government has been in power, the situation of New Zealanders in Australia has continued to deteriorate. For every piddling concession won by NZ, there are a handful of new policies introduced that further restrict Kiwis rights. McCully claims that to raise the issue more forcefully or more widely would only make things worse for Kiwis in Australia. This is a claim we absolutely dispute. In our conversations with Australian politicians, we find that most are completely ignorant of the current policies towards Kiwis. When they are explained to them, many immediately recognise they are illogical and have negative social consequences and should be changed. It is clear the NZ Government could do a lot more to engage with Australias political class and raise awareness about this issue! Perhaps we shouldnt be surprised by McCullys statements. We have written to both him and John Key on multiple occasions and suggested we work together and share information where appropriate. The best we have ever received in return has been a form reply. The Key Governments handling of this issue is simply not good enough. The relevant part of the interview begins at 625.
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 06:00:01 +0000
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