Newest detainee form shows Govt once again dropped the ball

The newest form that New Zealand detainees are being asked to sign makes them liable for removal costs despite assurances to the contrary by both the New Zealand and Australian Government, the Green Party says.

The Green Party has obtained the latest form being given out to New Zealanders facing deportation from Australia. The form, provided by lawyer Greg Barns, is explicitly for New Zealand citizens and says they will incur the debt for the cost of their removal from Australia. This week, both John Key and Amy Adams said New Zealanders will not be liable for the cost of their removal.

“It’s obvious that the National Government has yet again dropped the ball when it comes to ensuring the rights of New Zealanders are protected,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.

“The Australian Government has no interest in honouring its promises around the deportation of New Zealand citizens, and the National Government has no intention of holding them to account.

“After all the bluster from Amy Adams this week, it defies belief that she wouldn’t have ensured that the undertakings she managed to extract from the Aussies didn’t make it into the agreement all deportees are forced to sign.

“How is it that we are able to get this form but Amy Adams can’t seem to get it to ensure the form is up to scratch?

“If the Government is going to make promises it needs to make sure they can keep them.

“The Government needs to undertake to every New Zealander that has been and will be deported from Australia, that it has their back,” said Mrs Turei.

Action

Protect Nature

Volunteer

The Greens are proud to be driven by passionate people like you. Today we need your help to take action on the biggest issues facing Aotearoa. Volu...

Action

Save Auckland's Climate Budget

Sign the petition to stop Mayor Wayne Brown's proposal for dangerous cuts to climate and environmental programmes that protect us from extreme weat...

Action

No New Mines 2023

Action

Expand Voting

Now more than ever, young people in Aotearoa are impacted by Government decisions, and they deserve to have a say. We are calling on all Members of...

Action

End Intensive Winter Grazing

Sign the petition to Labour Ministers, to move faster in bringing regulations into force and end intensive winter grazing.

Action

Trains for Climate

Add your name to our open letter urging the Minister for Finance Grant Robertson to save our passenger trains between Wellington, the Wairarapa and...

Action

Healthy Oceans 2022

Join our Healthy Oceans Crew to help us keep the health and protection of our oceans high on the Labour Government’s political agenda.

Action

It's time: A Ministry for Rainbow Communities

Join our call asking the Prime Minister to establish a Ministry for Rainbow Communities that can champion Rainbow issues.

Action

No new mines on conservation land

Sign the open letter asking Labour Ministers to stick to their promise of banning new mining projects on conservation land.

Action

Allow community ownership of our buses

Public transport is an essential service and helps to tackle the climate crisis by reducing our carbon emissions. But there are barriers to communi...

Action

Local Events

We have activists across Aotearoa / New Zealand who are working hard to build a brighter future for our kids and grandkids. This page lists upcomin...

Latest Human Rights Announcements

Story

Green MPs sponsor Iranian protests at risk of execution

Green Party MPs have joined politicians from across Europe to sponsor political prisoners detained in Iran during the recent protests - and urges M...

Disability assist dogs now protected in law

The Green Party has changed the law to ensure people do not face discrimination for having a disability assist dog.

Greens call for government to implement all recommendations of Casey report into detention of asylum seekers

An independent review of New Zealand’s detention regime for asylum seekers has found arbitrary and abusive practices in Aotearoa’s immigration law,...

HRC housing inquiry confirms need for rental WOF

The Human Rights Commission inquiry into housing quality confirms what the Green Party has been calling for - a rental Warrant of Fitness and a reg...

Manus and Nauru Refugee resettlement welcome, but more to do

The Green Party welcomes the long overdue deal to resettle 150 refugees held unlawfully in Australia’s prison islands here in Aotearoa - but says t...

Greens celebrate historic day for Rainbow communities

The Greens are celebrating conversion practices finally being banned in Aotearoa New Zealand, following the third reading of the Conversion Practic...