Current Policies Impacting Pasifika Peoples
As highlighted previously, a large proportion of the Pasifika population in Australia have migrated directly from New Zealand, or their parents have. This means that many did not hold Australian citizenship.
Because of the various changes to Australian policy and legislation relating to New Zealand citizens and Permanent Residents, staying abreast of pathways to citizenship status was complicated and confusing for many years. Fortunately, this has changed.
Pathways to Australian Citizenship
From 1 July 2023, New Zealand citizens living in Australia have a direct pathway to Australian citizenship. They are able to apply for citizenship without first obtaining permanent residence, if they have been residing in Australia for four years. Children of New Zealand SCV holders born in Australia on or after 1 July 2022 automatically acquire Australian citizenship at birth. For more information, see:
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/news-media/archive/article?itemId=1047
New Zealand SCV holders who obtain Australian citizenship are now able to apply for a loan provided through the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP). Previously they were eligible to access a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) at a university, but not a loan to meet the student contribution amount. From 1 July 2023, those obtaining Australian citizenship are able to obtain HELP support and not required to meet the student contribution amount up-front, a requirement which precluded many from post-school study. Many advocates have argued that because potential students did not have the funds to pay university fees upfront, they limited their aspirations. In essence, the cost of education rather than their capacity or ability to succeed shaped their future goals. This resulted in potential university students taking up low-skilled jobs in factories when they had the ability to upskill which would have provided them, their families and the generations after with more income, opportunities and success.
SCV holders were also ineligible for a place in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which provides support for eligible people with permanent and significant disability. This was particularly distressing for families with a young child who would benefit from early intervention assistance. It was also frustrating for these families as they were contributing to the Medicare levy that funded the NDIS, yet were ineligible to access its services.
Accessing HECS-HELP Student Loans
One of the main reasons New Zealand citizens are motivated to gain Australian citizenship is to access HECS-HELP student loans to pay higher education fees.
Currently, New Zealand citizens must pay their fees up front each year to their institution – but they do receive a Commonwealth-supported place.
On average, a university qualification can cost around $8,000-$10,000 a year upfront for New Zealand citizen students.
The table below outlines the situation for prospective university students:
| Gets a Commonwealth-supported place | Can access HECS-HELP loan | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian citizens | Yes | Yes |
| Australian permanent residents | Yes | No |
| New Zealand citizens (lived in Australia for at least 10 years) | Yes | Yes if you meet certain criteria (see links above) |
| New Zealand citizens (lived in Australia for less than 10 years) | Yes | No |
For more information about HECS-HELP for New Zealand citizens see this link:
https://www.studyassist.gov.au/helpful-resources/faqs-nz
An important point to note here is that Permanent Residents are not eligible for HECS-HELP until they become citizens.
Consequences
One of the consequences that is troubling New Zealanders who have made Australia home is that the current policies restricting pathways to citizenship also impact to critical social services and schemes such as HECS-HELP – despite paying taxes to the Australian Government to fund such schemes.
In terms of student and post-high school options, many advocates argue that because students do not have the funds to pay university fees upfront, they limit their aspirations because they know they will not afford to go to university. In essence, the cost of education rather than their capacity or ability to succeed shapes their future goals.
Ultimately, students are taking up low-skilled jobs in factories when they have the ability to upskill which will provide them, their families and the generations after with more income, opportunities and success.
Key points
The three main points to this section are these:
- Constant policy changes for several decades made pathways to Australian citizenship increasingly confusing for New Zealand citizens to understand, and therefore apply for.
- The changes to the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement in 2001 had a marked and negative impact on the aspirations and livelihoods of New Zealand citizens within Australia – across generations for some 20 years and meant that many of the rights Australians enjoyed when re-locating to New Zealand were not afforded to New Zealanders here in Australia.
- From 1 July 2023, New Zealand citizens who have resided in Australia for at least the last four years can apply for Australian citizenship without needing to apply for a permanent visa. In May 2023, advocates suggested this change would positively affect the lives of some 350,000 to 400,000 New Zealanders living in Australia, many of whom claim Pasifika or Maori ancestry.