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Australian reports: Deepening friction between Australia-New Zealand officials

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 23 Feb 2021, 5:04PM
Jacinda Ardern and Scott Morrison. (Photo / Getty)
Jacinda Ardern and Scott Morrison. (Photo / Getty)

Australian reports: Deepening friction between Australia-New Zealand officials

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 23 Feb 2021, 5:04PM

Our friendly rivalry with Australia may be deepening.

A new Sydney Morning Herald report alleges there is significant unease across the ditch over our relations with China.

It also suggests friction from Canberra has been exacerbated by the departure of Winston Peters.

In January Trade Minister Damien O'Connor was slammed after saying Australia should speak with 'more diplomacy' in dealings with China.

Sydney Morning Herald Foreign Affairs Correspondent Anthony Galloway told Heather du Plessis-Allan senior Government figures are upset by O'Connor and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta, who offered to broker an agreement between the two countries.

"The concern that you have two very inexperienced ministers in a position kind of free-lancing on foreign policy."

He says that there is concern the two Ministers were trying to put themselves in Ardern's head.

Galloway says there is a lot of frustration at the state of the partnership. 

"We should be concerned about it as it is an important relationship. For both countries, it is probably our longest standing relationship."

Last week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern spoke against her Australian counterpart Scott Morrison, after it was revealed Australia had cancelled citizenship for Kiwi-born Suhayra Aden, who was arrested at the Turkish border and accused of being affiliated with Islamic State.

The move means Aden is likely to be deported to New Zealand, despite living in Australia since she was six. 

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