Upcoming bilateral talks between Australia and New Zealand will be dominated by the issue of Kiwis held in Australian detention centres.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key is certain that the issue will dominate the bilateral talks between the two countries, AAP reports. Newly minted Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will make his first visit to New Zealand on Friday.

The Christmas Island immigration detention centre is currently holding 40 New Zealanders who are facing deportation. Other Australian detention centres, 200 in number, also house Kiwis who are set to be deported.

New Zealand opposition MPs are calling on to the Australian government to stop deportations. Key supported the statement through his interview on the Paul Henry show on Monday, adding that New Zealanders should not be retained in detention centres, especially with the good and “special relationship” between Australia and New Zealand. Key is requesting for the Turnbull administration to allow a “carve-out” for New Zealand in some form, he told the press.

Key described Turnbull as a “thoroughly reasonable guy” with a “big brain on him.” The prime minister added that he will have a good conversation with his Australian counterpart.

Prior to Turnbull’s turn in the office, Key had pushed the issue with former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, he said in the interview. It was in May, under Abbott’s administration, that the immigration law was approved and put into action.

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