Options to streamline the pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders living in Australia will be developed by the two countries' governments by Anzac Day next year, with greater voting rights for Kiwis also on the table.
Speaking after formal talks in Sydney on Friday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there are "no closer friends than Australia and New Zealand" and the two nations want to streamline processes to citizenship.
"We'll work on ways of a pathway to citizenship with a timeline of Anzac Day 2023," he said.
A joint statement released by both countries says the two leaders "agreed that no New Zealander or Australian should be rendered permanently 'temporary' when it comes to residence in either country, and agreed to ensure viable pathways to citizenship".
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at the press conference that was a "step change in the ways that we've previously seen New Zealanders treated here" and an "acknowledgement of the role New Zealanders play here in Australia".
In his remarks, the Australian Prime Minister said there have been "issues raised relating to citizenship".
One such challenge has been around Section 501 of the country's Migration Act. It allows people without citizenship in Australia to be deported back to their home country if they commit crimes.
New Zealand has raised concerns about the policy as it's meant some people who have spent essentially their whole lives in Australia, but never become citizens, are being deported to Aotearoa with few ties here. Streamlining the citizenship process could help address the issue.
Albanese said Section 501 will continue, but "common sense" would be applied in how it's implemented.
"Where you have a circumstance where someone has lived their entire life effectively in Australia with no connection whatsoever to New Zealand, then common sense should apply and we will act as friends and we'll work through those issues in a common-sense way."
Ardern said that's "exactly what we have asked of Australia".
"We acknowledge that Australia will continue to deport, as New Zealand currently does have provision and does deport those who don't have long-term connection to New Zealand.
"What we've been seeking is common sense and the spirit of friendship and that's what Prime Minister Albanese [has] spoken to today."
Ardern referred to New Zealanders as "Australia's best migrants", saying that is borne out in what they contribute as taxpayers. However, when looking at census data, Ardern said New Zealanders "tend to translate into citizenship at a rate of about 30 percent", but for other nationalities, it is closer to 60 percent.
Albanese is also keen to look at voting rights for New Zealanders who have been residents in Australia for more than a year, just like how Australians who have been residents in New Zealand for more than 12 months can vote.
"We won't preempt those processes, but it is, I think, a really common sense position to at least examine over the coming months."
Another announcement Albanese and Ardern made was that economic and foreign affairs ministers, including those in the Climate Change and Defence portfolios, will now meet annually.
The pair's joint statement also addresses their desire for a "peaceful, stable, prosperous and resilient Pacific" with the Pacific Islands Forum at the centre, as well as agreement to deepen economic integration between the two countries.
It condemns the "illegal invasion of Ukraine", highlights the countries' support for an international rules-based order and raises concern about human rights violations in Xinjiang, China, the erosion of rights in Hong Kong, and developments in the South China Sea.
