Government tightens visa character test

Tens of thousands of migrants could have their visas cancelled under proposed laws to tighten the character test. The changes introduced to Parliament last month are expected to have a disproportionate effect on New Zealanders living in Australia, deepening a growing rift between the two countries over deportations.

Minister for Immigration David Coleman during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, February 20, 2019 Source: AAP

Deportations have been a source of tension between New Zealand and Australia since the character test was strengthened in 2014 resulting in many long-term Australian residents being sent back if they'd been sentenced to 12 months jail for a crime.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has repeatedly described the issue as corrosive, raising it as recently as last month during a visit to Melbourne.

But the Australian government is showing no signs of backing down.

Instead, Immigration Minister David Coleman is proposing to further tighten the rules to make it easier to deport tens of thousands more migrants on character grounds.

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