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Quarantine

Deportations from Australia to New Zealand Resume Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Australian government has restarted deporting New Zealanders who have had their visas cancelled, straining relations between the two countries. However, some of those being deported have pledged to adhere to quarantine rules upon their return to New Zealand. This decision comes as New Zealand has quashed community transmission of the virus, with only 25 active cases remaining, all of which are returning travellers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Australian government has restarted deporting New Zealanders who have had their visas cancelled, citing concerns about national security.
  • Raymond Elise, a former president of the Rebels motorcycle gang's Victoria branch, has pledged to adhere to quarantine rules upon his return to New Zealand.
  • Elise was scheduled for deportation along with eight others in detention in Melbourne, Australia.
  • The deportees will be housed in a special quarantine hotel with extra security to monitor them during their two-week mandatory isolation period.
  • New Zealand has reported fewer than 1,200 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 22 deaths, and has quashed community transmission of the virus.
  • The Australian government has deported over 1,000 New Zealanders since 2014 under a law change made in 2014 that allows for the deportation of New Zealanders on "bad character grounds".
  • New Zealand's prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has repeatedly urged the Australian government to revoke the measure.
  • Extra precautions are needed to manage deportees, who are considered at a higher risk of potential offending.

Statistics:

  • 25 active cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand, all of which are returning travellers.
  • New Zealand has reported fewer than 1,200 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 22 deaths.
  • Over 1,000 New Zealanders have been deported by the Australian government under a law change made in 2014.
  • 30 people from Australian detention centres are scheduled to be sent to Auckland this week.

Sources:

  • Stuff
  • Chris Hipkins, New Zealand's health minister
  • Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand's prime minister
  • Hannah Peters/Getty Images
  • New Zealand's government press release (no date cited)

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