Before this weekend’s visit, Luxon had dismissed any suggestion the Australians wouldn’t take kindly to Willis’ comments, but he didn’t explicitly endorse them as he insisted he wouldn’t comment on Australian politics.
Christopher Luxon and Anthony Albanese stressed the level of banter the pair share. Photo / Adam Pearse
In a joint press conference with Luxon on Saturday, Albanese said he viewed Willis’ comments as a “bit of cheekiness”.
“I’m very relaxed about what people say tongue-in-cheek overseas.
“I doubt whether anyone took it more seriously than I did … that’s the nature of the banter that occurs.”
He said he knew Willis and also counted Labour leader Chris Hipkins as a friend.
“I have no intention of engaging in internal New Zealand politics and I don’t think the Finance Minister was doing that either.”
Albanese continued, deploying some “banter” himself by reminding those in the press conference more than 630,000 New Zealanders lived in Australia, to which Luxon quickly added there were 90,000 Australians in New Zealand.
“But they’re quality, quality Prime Minister,” Albanese quipped.
The two leaders were also questioned on how prevalent the issue of immigration was becoming in their respective political systems, thanks in part to a rise in popularity for Australia’s One Nation Party and New Zealand First.
Anthony Albanese (left) lauded this weekend’s meeting as among the most effective he’d had as PM. Photo / Adam Pearse
Luxon warned de-linking immigration settings with a country’s economic agenda had contributed to uncontrolled migration in the likes of Britain and the United States, and he condemned “lazy” politicians for weaponising it.
“That political mentality … shouldn’t be trying to be imported in, to whip up xenophobia and an anti-immigrant feeling … that is not the New Zealand experience.”
Albanese warned a politically charged approach to immigration would impair social cohesion.
“One of the things that I will never draw a distinction between is Australians and migrants because to do that is to seek to divide.”
Global volatility was a central theme as the two leaders brought together several high-powered business executives from both sides of the Tasman on Friday and Saturday to discuss how Australia and New Zealand could intertwine their economies to better shield them from global shocks.
Albanese lauded the engagement as among the “most effective” business meetings he’d had as Prime Minister.
Christopher Luxon made a flying visit to Queensland for the annual meeting with his Australian counterpart. Photo / Adam Pearse
The critical nature of the Middle East conflict was reflected in a joint statement issued by the two leaders, which reiterated calls to restore maritime safety through the Strait of Hormuz and an assurance Iran couldn’t develop a nuclear weapon.
It also sent a message to Israel and Lebanon, which have continued hostilities during ceasefire efforts, reinforcing the “expectation that all parties fully respect and uphold the US-brokered ceasefire agreed by Israel and Lebanon”.
The statement repeated concerns Australia and New Zealand had regarding activity in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, which China claims it has control over.
It referenced the “militarisation of disputed features and instances of unsafe and unprofessional behaviour”.
Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.