Australia resumes deporting New Zealanders on 'character grounds' amid pandemic

Australia has resumed deporting New Zealanders based on controversial ‘character grounds’ despite coronavirus pandemic which has halted international air travel. According to reports,  controversial policy of sending back ‘New Zealanders’ on character grounds has infuriated New Zealand authorities, who claim that many of those deported have lived in Australia most of ir lives.

Character grounds deportation does t require criminal conviction

As per reports, Australian Border Force (ABF) deported 31 New Zealanders using two chartered planes on July 16. Those who were deported consisted of a former biker gang boss and well and multiple individuals that had been convicted of violent crimes.

According to reports, almost 3,000 New Zealanders have had ir visas cancelled on character ground since 2014. Being classified as unfit under character grounds policy does t require an individual to have a criminal record for m to be deported. Group deportations had been paused since March due to coronavirus pandemic and travel restrictions imposed in an effort to curb virus.

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New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had accused Australia of sending people who are t really from country and reportedly claimed that this policy of deportation is hurting relations between New Zealand and Australia. Authorities in New Zealand have also repeatedly claimed that most of those being deported have lived most of ir lives in Australia and have a very "mir connection" to New Zealand.

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As per reports, Jacinda Ardern most recently brought up issue of deporting New Zealanders back in February during a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. She claimed that Australia was actually deporting its own people and its problems to New Zealand. Scott Morrison replied that people who were t Australian citizens and had violated Australian laws will t be allowed to remain in country.