It's been a whole weekend since the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced that the Australian government had relaxed citizenship requirements for New Zealand citizens.
I don't know about other New Zealand citizens living in Australia but this is very good news and I've spent the entire weekend buzzing.
I'd already planned to eventually get citizenship but was going to go under the skilled visa which might not have even been guaranteed but now it is guaranteed.
Subject to being resident in Australia on the 19th of February 2016, and consistently contributing, and earning at least $53,900 as per five consecutive years of tax returns with good health and character assessments, New Zealand citizens now have a special pathway to citizenship.
Since the news came out there have been mixed reactions from New Zealanders. Most have been negative saying the policy change doesn't go far enough.
I completely disagree.
The new policy announcement is a major concession from the Australian government and allows those who truly want to, the opportunity to become a citizen of this great country.
I've been disappointed in the reaction from New Zealanders and the New Zealand media.
For one thing they've said they want the policy to apply to new arrivals as well, however that shouldn't happen. It would only see a further influx of New Zealand citizens and Australia just can't sustain that type of population increase.
New Zealanders who have been quoted in the media have come across as ungrateful when they say the Australian government hasn't given us much and that they're still taking advantage of us. They're being unreasonable when they say it should apply to every New Zealander living in Australia.
It shouldn't.
Australia has the right to choose who it allows into the country and its home. It has the right to decide who it will effectively protect and allow to join the family.
Yes New Zealand and Australia do have a special relationship and that special relationship has made this pathway possible, but it can't be one sided. New Zealanders must show appreciation to the Australian government.
It's rather sad that the New Zealand media and people quoted have not shown a genuine desire to be Australian, to legally hold an Australian passport and call themselves Australian. It's sad that the media hasn't mentioned that some people are truly happy they'll be able to vote in a few years time. They haven't shown the people who are truly appreciative of the concession by the New Zealand government.
They basically haven't focused on what it means for people to eventually become a citizen, to know that one day they can make that pledge to Australia and show loyalty by becoming a citizen.
It's not like the NZ media says, it's not about welfare and it's not getting for paying taxes through working. It's about so much more than that.
Citizenship means being able to stay in Australia forever and call oneself Australian. This new pathway means holding an Australian passport. It means legally being Australian, that it's not just a state of mind but a legality.
It's so much bigger than the New Zealand media seems to realise and I just can't wait to become an Australian citizen in five to seven years time. It isn't just about having access to welfare and the fact the New Zealand media thinks it is shows how truly disconnected from the reality and the impact it has on people's everyday lives they truly are.
It means never being deported. It means being able to apply for Federal government jobs. It means being able to vote. It means travelling as an Australian. It means so much more than the New Zealand government and media realise.
It means we go from being a visitor to being a citizen of Australia. It's the equivalent of marriage. It's making a declaration of loyalty to Australia and it means showing pride about living in Australia.
I actually can't put into words just want the immigration policy change means because it means that much.
It's life changing and is the exact thing people like me have been wanting the Australian government to do for years. I just wish more New Zealand citizens felt the same way and saw the magnitude of exactly what was announced on Friday the 19th of February.
Again, thank you Australia for finally realising that some New Zealanders are here permanently and have a genuine desire to show commitment and loyalty to the country, and thank you for allowing us to become citizens eventually should we meet the requirements.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.