Changes made to the immigration laws have caused the citizens of New Zealand to stand at second place in the detention centres of Australia.
According to the latest figures that show around 184 New Zealanders are currently being held in the immigration detention centres. They stood at second place after the Iranians with a total of 407.
The surge in the numbers has come after the changes made to the “character test” of the government under the section number 501 of Immigration Act.
An announcement was made in the last year’s December month that the visa would be cancelled if a person failed to clear the stringent character test.
According to the DIBP website, character test failure can occur if a person has faced sentence in prison for 12 months or for more duration. And since the changes are made, the visas of around 444 New Zealanders have been cancelled.
As per Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, people must stand by the law, and exceptions were not there. He said that the small minority who breaks law and visa conditions and who harm the Australian community have not being welcomed.
According to a report, there are almost 75 citizens of New Zealand and Pacific Islanders who are currently detained in the controversial Christmas Island detention centres.
With this policy, the politicians of New Zealand feels that Australia is overly harsh on the New Zealanders.
David Shearer, Spokesman, Foreign Affairs, New Zealand Labour Party, called this situation as unacceptable.
