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Anthony Albanese and Jacinda Ardern meet for talks on climate change, foreign policy and deportations — as it happened

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met with his New Zealand counterpart, Jacinda Ardern, in Sydney to discuss how the two countries can better work together on climate change, foreign policy and labour shortages, among other issues.

Look back on all of Friday's developments.

Key events

Live updates

By Bridget Judd

Key announcements from Anthony Albanese and Jacinda Ardern

In case you missed that earlier press conference, here's what we learned:

  • The two nations will set up annual bilateral engagement between ministers for foreign affairs, defence, finance, and climate change
  • Anthony Albanese says he'll ask a parliamentary committee to consider whether New Zealanders who are living and working in Australia can vote
  • Mr Albanese says that while Australia will "continue to deport people when appropriate", common sense will apply
  • The two leaders described the meeting as a "reset" in the relationship

This is where we'll leave the blog for today, but thanks for following along.

For the latest politics news, you can stay up-to-date right over here.

By Bridget Judd

'Today's meeting was an important step in resetting the relationship'

Wrapping up after that final question, Mr Albanese says he looks forward to "regular engagement" with Ms Ardern.

"But also I know that my ministers are in contact with New Zealand's ministers as well on a regular basis," he says.

"We are almost in the same time zones. It's much more easy for us to cooperate than it is across the other side of the world."

He says today's meeting was an "important step in resetting the relationship and was very positive".

"And I look forward to it being even more positive in the future."

By Bridget Judd

'We will cooperate with China when we can, but we will stand up for Australian values when we must'

The two leaders were pressed further about their concerns regarding China's growing influence in the Pacific.

Reiterating that the region is experiencing "a period of strategic competition", Mr Albanese says China "is more forward-leaning, it is more aggressive".

"My position is that we will continue to engage and co-operate — Australia's position, we will co-operate with China when we can but we will stand up for Australian values when we must.

"When we engage in the region, there aren't strings attached. We engaged because that is the right thing to do by lifting up the development of our neighbours, we have a responsibility to do that, and the more that we can co-operate on that, the greater the benefit will be," he added.

By Bridget Judd

'We want to up our game in the region and that's what the Pacific are looking for'

Mr Albanese and Ms Ardern were asked about calls from Pacific nations to take further action on climate change, and whether additional cuts to emissions or foreign aid were on the cards.

Mr Albanese says Australia has put forward a $200 million fund for infrastructure investment and climate change, "on top of the $525 million of additional support for development assistance in the Pacific".

"Some of that will also have implications for acting on climate change because part of development assistance is assisting our Pacific island friends to transition, to have access to energy which is clean, which is sustainable, for them as well.

"I believe that our changed position will be very much welcomed in the Pacific."

Ms Ardern says New Zealand will continue to support its neighbours "for predominantly mitigation, but where they seek it, adaptation".

"We have had a bit of a head start having been in government for a few years, but we want to continue to up our game in the region and that's what the Pacific are looking for."

By Bridget Judd

'We are living in an era of strategic competition' in the Pacific, Albanese says

Australia, along with the US and UK, have been vocal about their concerns regarding China's growing influence in the Pacific.

Mr Albanese says there is "no doubt that security and security agreements" will be a topic at the Pacific Islands Forum on July 11.

He says he'll be putting forward concerns about "some of the developments that have occurred in the region".

"We know we are living in an era of strategic competition in the region. Australia's friendship and relations with a sovereign nations of the Pacific are ones of a friend, a friend that is historically played a role in the region of being a security partner of choice.

"We wish to remain a security partner of choice."

By Bridget Judd

Australia 'will continue to deport people when appropriate'

Addressing those talks around visas and citizenship, Mr Albanese says that while Australia will "continue to deport people when appropriate", common sense will apply.

"Where you have a circumstance where someone has lived their entire life, effectively, in Australia with no connection whatsoever to New Zealand... we will act as friends and we will work through those issues in a commonsense way."

Ms Ardern says "this is exactly what we have asked of Australia".

"We acknowledge Australia will continue to deport, as New Zealand currently does have provision and does deport those who don't have a long-term connection to New Zealand.

"What we have been seeking is commonsense and the spirit of friendship and that's what Prime Minister Albanese has spoken to today."

By Bridget Judd

'We've long argued that New Zealanders are Australia's best migrants'

That's Jacinda Ardern, who is speaking now.

She says what New Zealanders contribute as taxpayers "is a step above what you'll see in the tax contribution from others".

"And our ask has been for there to be a greater acknowledgement of the role that New Zealanders play here in Australia.

"The fact that we have — and you'll see this in our communique — agreement that no New Zealander or Australian should be rendered permanently temporary - that is a step change in the way that we've previously seen New Zealanders treated here.

Ms Ardern says Census data shows that New Zealanders tend to translate into citizenship "at a rate of about 30 per cent — for other nationalities in Australia, it's closer to 60 per cent".

"So that demonstrates some of the barriers that exist," she says.

"And we've had a commitment to work through those issues together and we've set ourselves the ambitious timeline of having those proposals in time for Anzac Day 2023."

By Bridget Judd

Voting rights for NZ residents point of discussion

Mr Albanese says the two nations are working together on citizenship issues, "so that people get more rights that are more consistent".

"One of the issues that we'll look at as well unilaterally in Australia is, in New Zealand, if you're an Australian who has been resident for a year, you have voting rights in New Zealand, you're able to participate fully in those processes. 

"So, as part of the normal review process that occurs after a federal election in Australia, we'll be asking the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters to consider whether there's a way to return to systems that have existed in the past of giving New Zealand people who are here in Australia, contributing to society, paying taxes, working, voting rights here in Australia as well."

By Bridget Judd

'We have had a very successful discussion this morning'

Anthony Albanese and Jacinda Ardern have stepped up in Sydney.

Mr Albanese says "there are no closer friends than Australia and New Zealand", adding that today's discussions reflected "the reset in relations between Australia and New Zealand".

"We had a range of positive discussions arising out of this morning and we've released a communique," he says.

"We discussed going forward as well a number of new decisions. One is to have annual meetings between our economic ministers and our international ministers.

"When we say our 'economic ministers', that includes climate change so, our treasurer and climate ministers, working on ways in which we can benefit from the innovation that will occur with the shift to clean-energy economies in our respective nations."

Mr Albanese says there will also be annual meetings for foreign affairs and defence issues.

By Bridget Judd

Key Event

Watch the press conference with Anthony Albanese and Jacinda Ardern

Follow along for the latest updates as they address the media at 10:55am(AEST).

By Bridget Judd

Australia and its allies 'must do better' in the Pacific, Albanese says

Australia, along with the US and UK, have been vocal about their concerns regarding China's growing influence in the Pacific.

Speaking overnight, Mr Albanese said Australia and New Zealand must work closely together to ensure peace in the region.

"Not just us, but the US and other nations have recognised that we must do better in the region and that is important for security and peace in the region as well."

By Bridget Judd

Ardern says NZ's no-nuclear line on AUKUS subs met with 'understanding'

In case you missed it, the New Zealand PM has reaffirmed her country's long-standing policy of not allowing nuclear-powered vessels in its waters, saying the rule was well understood in Australia.

Asked by 7.30 host Sarah Ferguson if there were "any circumstances" in which an Australian nuclear-propelled submarine might dock in a New Zealand port in the future, Ms Ardern said the policy was set.

"But, actually, you know, I've only ever encountered understanding and appreciation of that position," she said.

"We've taken a strong, principled position and we'll continue to do so. That doesn't change the relationship we have with Australia or their understanding of our position."

You can catch up on that interview over here.

By Bridget Judd

Anthony Albanese and Jacinda Ardern meet for talks on climate change, foreign policy

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his New Zealand counterpart have committed to working more closely together to address climate change.

Jacinda Ardern is in Australia with a large business delegation and today the leaders are holding official talks about climate change, foreign policy, labour shortages and deportations, among other things.

Follow along on the blog for the latest updates as they address the media at 10:55am (AEST).

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