Aussie in Syria won't become stateless: NZ

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says he won't leave a woman with dual nationality stateless if Australia withdraws her citizenship.

A New Zealand woman who travelled to Syria on an apparent humanitarian mission won't be left stateless if Australia withdraws her dual citizenship.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott wants to withdraw Australian citizenship from dual nationals who go abroad to fight for extremists such as the Islamic State.

But Kiwi Prime Minister John Key says there is nothing to stop the woman returning to New Zealand.

"We can't stop Australia doing what it chooses to do," Mr Key told reporters on Monday.

"We can only reflect on whether we believe it's appropriate to leave a New Zealand citizen in a stateless position and ... we don't support that."

The woman is trying to return to Australia and is offering authorities help countering terrorism networks, the Sun-Herald newspaper has reported.

Mr Key said New Zealand authorities don't know the woman's identity.

He said a review of his country's security legislation due to start next month could consider whether authorities need new powers to deal with people suspected of having been foreign fighters and who want to return.

"If a person wanted to come back to New Zealand, there are provisions in the law which may allow us to do something," Mr Key said.

"The question would be whether we need to be able to do more."


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world