Australian Minister Peter Dutton ‘shatters his own reputation’ by insulting New Zealand deportees, says Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta says Australian Minister Peter Dutton “only serves to destroy his own reputation” by insulting New Zealand deportees by calling them “garbage.”

Dutton, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister, was interviewed for a Nine News Channel report on criminal deportees to New Zealand earlier this week, saying: “It’s taking out the trash, then we can make Australia a safer place.” .

Nine News was allowed to film deportees being escorted onto a flight to New Zealand, and a reporter goaded them by saying, “Our country doesn’t want you, are you excited to go home?”

Mahuta said Dutton’s comments “only serve to destroy her own reputation,” a line she continued to repeat.

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“They should reflect on how they portray the transfer of people back to New Zealand, but again, Dutton’s comments only serve to destroy his own reputation.”

He said New Zealand had “raised the issue of deportation well” with Australia, and the trans-Tasman relationship had not been damaged.

“I would not exaggerate the issue to the extent that this damages the relationship between New Zealand and Australia … Let’s put it in context. Dutton’s comments serve as a reflection on his own character.”

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand would not go “tit for tat” over the deportation images and Dutton’s comments.

“Your comments do not change my point of view,” he told reporters in Hawke’s Bay.

“On this issue, in fact, we have been totally consistent, Australians are very aware of our opinion on it and it seems that it has not changed. In terms of the fact that there are video footage now … we’re not going to go into an tit for tat about it, I don’t think that will get us anywhere.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said Australia’s actions were “deplorable” but was forced to back down after seemingly echoing Dutton’s comments.

“This is Australia exporting their garbage to New Zealand. These people, you know, their crime has been in Australia. For all intents and purposes, a lot of them have lived most of their lives in Australia,” he said previously. .

“He probably should have chosen a bit of a word frame … If this is Peter Dutton’s point of view, then he is exporting his garbage to New Zealand.”

Hipkins, who has responsibility for the government-run quarantine and isolation facilities, said Australia had continued deportations this year. These deportees are isolated in a hotel separate from other people entering the country.

In July 2020, Australia resumed its “501” deportations, named after the section of the Migration Act that allows the country to cancel visas for non-citizens.

Many of those who have been expelled from Australia for alleged links to criminal organizations.