Oz Kiwi takes concerns to Federal Parliament
The not for profit group Oz Kiwi, advocating for New Zealanders living in Australia, will go to Canberra on Tuesday 24th
and Wednesday 25th November to meet with Federal politicians and connect with two visiting New Zealand politicians.
Labour leader Andrew Little and Shadow Defence Minister Phil Goff will also hold a series of meetings in Canberra with
politicians across the political spectrum.
The meetings will call for the Turnbull Government to accord the same rights to Kiwis living in Australia as other
permanent residents.
Kiwis arriving in Australia enter on a Special Category Visa (SCV) which entitles them to work and live in Australia
indefinitely and purchase property here, but the SCV does not provide an avenue for citizenship or access to many
government services, even though they pay the same taxes as everyone else.
Some of the services New Zealanders are excluded from include access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme [for
which they must pay a levy for as part of their taxes], student loans, unemployment benefit, disability benefits, and
some insurances. New Zealanders are even barred from applying for jobs in the Australian Defence Force.
Australians who move to New Zealand are treated more fairly. They’re able to vote after one year, after two years
receive benefits in times of hardship and sickness, then after five years can apply for citizenship.
Oz Kiwi Chair Tim Gassin said, “We're committed to working with politicians from both nations to find a reasonable
solution. It is only through working together that we can expect to see a return to equitable treatment of trans-Tasman
migrants.”
“Where is the New Zealand in ANZAC? Equality and fairness is all we are asking for, please give Kiwis a fair go”.
New Zealand Labour leader Andrew Little and Shadow Defence Minister Phil Goff will hold a press conference at Canberra’s
Parliament House, between 3 pm to 4 pm on Wednesday 25th November.
ENDS