New Zealand concerned over Australia’s harsh treatment of Kiwis under new immigration law: Young Kiwi commits suicide in prison

The special relationship between Australia and New Zealand has come under a bit of strain with the New Zealand government and political parties expressing concerns over the way New Zealanders living in Australia are being treated under Australia’s new immigration laws.

It has been reported that over 200 New Zealanders are languishing in various detention centres in Australia and many are waiting to be deported back to New Zealand. The suicide of one Kiwi on Sunday out of extreme frustration, further highlighted the gravity of the issue, 9 News reported.

Under Australia’s new laws, effective since December, anyone who is not an Australian citizen and served a 12-month jail sentence can be deported.

New Zealander dies

The death of a 23-year-old New Zealander on Sunday heightened the Kiwi concerns. He had begged Australia's immigration minister not to deport him back to New Zealand.

Junior Togatuki died in Australia's Supermax prison. He committed suicide after writing farewell messages to his family after his Australian visa was revoked, reported Radio NZ.

Togatuki had pleaded with Immigration Minister Peter Dutton not to deport him, as he would be "lost" if deported to New Zealand as he had no family, friends, home or job in that country. He moved from Auckland to Sydney, at the age of four and had "no memory" of New Zealand and was “uncomfortable having the identity of a kiwi.”

Earlier, there were reports of 75 New Zealanders and Pacific islanders being detained in Christmas Island. Since December 2014, 406 Kiwis faced cancellation of visas, 95 Kiwis were deported and 184 sent to detention centres, reports said.

PM’s reaction

New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key said the new policy was “too harsh” and he was planning to take it up with Australia's new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Mr Key also said the government is awaiting more information about the deportees.

“My real point is that ... some people may well be deported to New Zealand who are not serious criminals, and who have no family, no connections, no framework in New Zealand. That wouldn't be great for them,” the PM said.

New Zealand’s political parties--Labour, the Greens and United Future have blamed the government for taking a weaker stand on the issue. Labour's foreign affairs spokesman, David Shearer, said the situation is “simply unacceptable.”

“Australia is dumping on New Zealand some of the laws that they've put in for other reasons to satisfy their domestic constituency and we are, in a sense, carrying the brunt of it,” Shearer said.

Meanwhile, Justice ministers in both the governments are reportedly working on a memorandum of understanding to improve information sharing on immigration related issues.

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