Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has dodged questions about his meeting with Jacinda Ardern, refusing to say if they discussed Australia's policy of deporting Kiwis no matter how long they had lived in Australia.
Mr Albanese and Labor's foreign affairs spokesperson Penny Wong met with the New Zealand prime minister in Auckland on Friday morning.
Asked whether Australia's practice of sending NZ citizens who have been sentenced to at least 12 months' jail back across the Tasman even if they've lived most of their lives in Australia was discussed, Mr Albanese declined to comment.
"We are not going to go through all of the issues in what was a private meeting that we had," Mr Albanese said.
Ms Ardern has repeatedly criticised the policy as having a "corrosive" effect on the relationship between the two countries.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese. Mr Shorten has backed the new party leader. Source: AAP
The crack down on foreign criminals has disproportionately affected Kiwis who are the largest group of non-citizens on temporary visas in Australia.
Unlike migrants from other countries, they are able to stay indefinitely on a temporary visa.
The majority of more than 4,000 foreign criminals kicked out since Australia tightened the character test for non-citizens in 2014 are New Zealand citizens.
The Labor leader has previously said his party had no intention of changing the existing policy and is yet to declare if it will oppose the government's plans to further tighten the character test that could see thousands more at risk of deportation.
Mr Albanese, who is in Auckland for the Australian New Zealand Leadership Forum, was gushing about the New Zealand prime minister, comparing her to former Labor leader Bob Hawke.
"Here is a politician who comes across first and foremost as a human being engaged in a conversation with her nation," Mr Albanese said in a speech to the forum.
"In a way, Prime Minister Ardern reminds me a bit of Bob Hawke, who knew instinctively how to lead - both from the front and from amongst the people."
