Peter Wilson: The week in politics - April 28th 2023

Australia's citizenship deal, Green Party tensions and a tax debate

Australia's citizenship deal - was it genuine goodwill or has our prime minister been "played like a digeridoo"? Tensions within the Green Party are said to be "boiling" as the Kerekere row drags on, and evidence that the wealthiest people pay tax at a lower rate than the rest of us starts up another capital gains tax debate.

The Australian government's announcement that from 1 July Kiwis could apply for citizenship after four years cascaded through the media this week.

It's retrospective, it's a big deal, and it was recognised as one.

Heather du Plessis-Allan: Australia’s immigration announcement is a positive change for NZ in the ANZAC relationship

I totally disagree with anyone seeing any negatives in Australia’s immigration announcement at the weekend, this is one of the most positive and significant changes for New Zealand in the ANZAC relationship.

I don’t believe it’s going to lead to a significant brain drain, that brain drain’s already happening.

Kiwis have already been moving to Australia regardless of the fact that they couldn’t get citizenship until now, I don’t think this is going to shift the needle much for people.

Point of Order: Albanese makes it easier for Kiwis to become Aussie citizens....

.....and that looks likely to make emigration even more attractive

Travel has loomed large in Beehive press statements over the past 24 hours or so.

The PM has travelled to Australia, the Minister of Education is off to the US for a teaching conference, kiwis have returned to the Tongariro Forest, and the last live farm animals to travel by sea from this country have been shipped out of New Plymouth.

The PM’s press statement today is the most significant insofar as it tells us we all have been given a strong incentive to make our own travel plans and emigrate to Australia.