Australia is not a 'punching bag' for Adern to use during her re-election campaign

NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern should get “her facts straight” before using the Australian government and its long-standing deportation policy as a “convenient punching bag” for her re-election campaign, according to Sky News host Chris Kenny.

Around 2,000 New Zealanders have been deported under Australia’s policy of sending non-residents back to their country of origin if they have been found guilty of a serious offence.

Ms Ardern said some of those who are deported arrived in Australia when they were children and only have tenuous links to New Zealand.

“Australia is well within its rights to deport individuals who break your laws. New Zealand does the same. But we have a simple request – send back Kiwis. Genuine Kiwis.

"Do not deport your people and your problems".

Mr Kenny said Ms Ardern’s comments are factually incorrect, since no country can deport their own citizens.

He said her “grandstanding” at a press conference with Scott Morrison may play well to her constituents in New Zealand, but she should not “foist her own problems” on the Morrison government.

Image: Getty

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