Equal rights for all from N.Z.

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33110, 28 December 1972, Page 1

Equal rights for all from N.Z.

Discrimination by Australia against New Zealanders who were neither Caucasian nor Maori would be removed as quickly as possible, said the new Australian Minister for Immigration (Mr Grassby) yesterday, according to a N.Z.P.A.-Keuter message from Canberra.

“The badge of New Zealand citizenship is enough for me,” said Mr Grassby.

“I hope to remove as quickly as possible the discrimination practised against some New Zealand citizens.” He said he was referring to the practice by which nonCaucasian and non-Maori New Zealanders did not have the same free entry to Australia as their fellow countrymen.

Mr Grassby said there had otherwise been no suggestion that there should be any changes in the rights which Australians and New Zealanders had to enter each other’s countries. The Prime Minister (Mr! Kirk) last evening welcomed the reported Australian move to end the entry restrictions., Although the Government ■had had no official advice of the Australian move, he said, it did appear that an end had been brought to the restrictions placed on entry to Australia of those New Zealand: citizens who were non-; Caucasian and non-Maori. About 50,000 New Zealand citizens are in this category. They include Polynesians, Chinese and Indians.

“Immediately on taking offiice I had some informal discussions started on this issue, particularly in relation to an instance which involved a New Zealander of Chinese blood,” said Mr Kirk. “I had also intended that Australia’s immigration policies

would be a topic for discus-

sion with the Australian Prime Minister (Mr Whitlam) when he visits New Zealand on January 20. Now, however, the end of this particular form if discrimination has been announced in a most welcome and forthright way. “It is a very welcome step, and I wish to congratulate the new Australian Minister for Immigration on a step that ensures that all New Zealanders will now stand equal on entry into Australia, just as all Australians have equal rights of entry into New Zealand,” said Mr Kirk. The Australian Government’s proposals on immigration, and British reaction to them, appear on page 9.