Mr Lange opposes any Aust, entry restriction

Press, 9 February 1983, Page 1

Mr Lange opposes any Aust, entry restriction

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney The New Zealand Labour Party will oppose any moves by its Australian counterpart to restrict the flow of New Zealanders crossing the Tasman to find work.

The Leader of the Opposition. Mr Lange, said on radio in Sydney that any action by Australia to restrict access would be an “unnecessary piece of restriction."

The new Australian Labour Party leader. Mr Bob Hawke, repeating party policy, said an Australian Labour Government would be derelict in its duty if it did not consider restricting the access of New Zealanders to the job market. He said the question of unemployment would be of paramount concern and the New Zealand migration issue would be considered in that context.

Mr Hawke, also speaking on national radio, said he did not believe the matter would cause conflict between the two Labour parties.

It would not create an overwhelming problem, he said.

“Any responsible government would have to look at.

it," said Mr Hawke, who was officially confirmed in office yesterday. Mr Lange said that New Zealanders would return from Australia if the Muldoon Government lost office. The National Government had created “economic refugees” — New Zealanders fleeing the country in search of jobs. Mr Lange said he was certain New Zealanders would move back home under a Labour government and any action to restrict access would be “an unnecessary piece of restriction.” “It must be galling for striving Australian families to see New Zealanders come in and pick up jobs. “We are going to try to keep them home,” he said. Mr Lange agreed the issue had “the potential for conflict” between the two parties. “But I am sure we can talk it over and sort it out,” he said.

The migration issue is a touchy political subject in New Zealand-Australia .relations and one of the few areas for potential difference.

New Zealand governments have jealously guarded the provisions of the Tasman travel agreement which allows New Zealanders free access for travel and work' without restriction, except for criminals, in Australia and vice versa. Australia’s decision in 1981 to introduce passports for Tasman travel, purportedly to cut-down the number of criminals and others abusing the free access, caused a political storm. However, in the last two years, with mounting unem-

ployment in Australia, there has’ been increased pressure from within the trade union movement, the A.L.P.. which agreed at its national conference last July for a review of the New Zealand migration question, and within the Liberal and National governing parties for a cut-back, or some form of restriction, on the entrance of New Zealanders.

Australia has a yearly immigrant quota of about 100.000 people, with New Zealanders coming on top of that.

An estimated 12,000 to 14,000 New Zealanders are expected this year, although the numbers have dropped and are continuing to fall as the job. market in Australia tightens. The A.L.P. position has been that New Zealanders might have to accept’ being included within the over-all immigrant intake so that they would be treated on an equal basis with other immigrants. Labour’s spokesman on immigration, Mr Michael Young, has said any change would only come after full consultation and agreement with the New Zealand Government.

The Fraser Government policy is for no change to the travel agreement unless there is a sudden increase in numbers from New Zealand.

The issue is constantly monitored by the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, some senior officials of which favour restrictions on New Zealanders.

According to the 1981 census, there were 177,000 New Zealand-born people in Australia, double the number of 1976.