Reasons

Since 2001 a number of laws, regulations, and policies have been introduced that have the effect of denying New Zealanders who settle in Australia under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement many of the basic rights enjoyed by all other permanent residents. As a result of these changes, these people are ineligible for Australian citizenship (and thus cannot gain voting rights and public sector and defence employment) and are denied access to student loans, disability services, basic social welfare provisions, and a variety of other Commonwealth and state government services. Approximately 200,000 people who call Australia home are affected. The Department of Immigration estimates 60% of these will never be eligible for any pathway to Australian citizenship

Request for action

We call for the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia to pass legislation that would end these permanent and arbitrary restrictions. We request all current absolute restrictions be removed and replaced by a system under which rights and access to services are granted after reasonable waiting periods. Most importantly, we request that all New Zealanders of good character who have made Australia their home be given the option of naturalisation on the same grounds as other permanent residents, allowing them to fully participate in Australian society and play their part in the democratic process.