Main Policy Considerations
The Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement
In 1973 the New Zealand and Australian Governments introduced the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement (TTTA). This entitled New Zealand and Australian citizens free movement between the countries so they could live and work with permanent residence and associated entitlements.
However, since then, the Australian Government made a number of policy changes to the Agreement that the New Zealand Government has not. Many of their policy changes have been as a result of a media narrative that strongly suggested that New Zealanders were arriving en masse, taking up jobs and becoming a burden on the benefit system. Added to that, the media strongly suggested that a large number of migrants were using New Zealand as a “backdoor” entry into Australia – so migrants originally from the Pacific Islands, Asia or South Africa were gaining New Zealand citizenship as a way to migrate to Australia.
1980s
In response to these narratives, in 1981, the Australian Government made it a requirement for New Zealanders to hold passports.
In 1986, they introduced a six-month waiting period before New Zealand citizens could become eligible for social security payments, which many believe which was in response to the “dole-bludging Kiwi” myth.
The 1990s
By 1994, any New Zealand citizen who was not granted another visa on arrival, was required to hold a Special Category Visa (SCV) to enter Australia (Department of Immigration and Border Protection, 2014).
And in 1996 the waiting period to become eligible for social security payments was extended to two years.
The 2000s
On 26 February 2001, a new bilateral social security agreement was introduced, resulting in two types of visa holders. Those who were residents on or before 26 February 2001 were given protected SCVs and those arriving after that date were given unprotected SCVs.
Unprotected SCVs
Many, if not most of the Pasifika populations in Australia have been here on unprotected SCVs. This means that they could live in Australia indefinitely. They were required to pay taxes but their access to permanent residence, citizenship and associated social security payments was limited. As stated by Birrell and Rapson (2001) the Australian Government wanted to reduce responsibility for social security payments to New Zealanders residing in Australia and to deter the number of arrivals who were unlikely to meet criteria for skilled migration.
In fact, an Australian Government Productivity Commission report cited that the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade estimated that the Australian Government outlaid an estimated A$1 billion for New Zealanders in social security, yet collected tax revenue of A$2.5 billion from New Zealanders! For a thorough understanding of SCV holders’ historical entitlements see:
As stated by Birrell & Rapson (2001) the Australian Government wanted to reduce responsibility for social security payments to New Zealanders residing in Australia and to deter the number of arrivals who were unlikely to meet criteria for skilled migration.
Summary
Since 2001 there has been a significant number of New Zealand SCV holders living and working in Australia, but who have not been eligible for permanent residency and certain entitlements associated with Australian citizenship. From July 1 2023, this changed. SCV holders who have resided in Australia for four years will have a pathway to Australian citizenship without first having to obtain permanent residency.
This has created some complex challenges for Pasifika peoples that we will look at later in the course.