Australia urged to ‘start behaving like a good global citizen’ after deporting a minor to New Zealand

A file photo of Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton. (AP)

The Australian government is facing renewed backlash from politicians in New Zealand after a minor was deported under the controversial 501 scheme.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she is seeking more information from the Australian government after Stuff.co.nz on Monday revealed that a 15-year-old boy had been deported under the program.

In a press conference, Ms Ardern confirmed that one of the people deported under the scheme earlier this month was under the age of 18.

“I’ve only just become aware that … within the group of 501s that we had returned recently that there was what we would consider to be a minor in that group,” she said.

“Of course we would have an expectation that regardless of the background that we do treat minors in a particular way when we’re dealing with deportation.”

Ms Ardern also reiterated that New Zealand had “never agreed with the policy”.

She said she had not spoken to Prime Minister Scott Morrison about the teenager’s deportation.

“He knows my position on the deportation policy,” she said. “So actually regardless of whether or not we’re dealing with a minor or someone who’s older, I have a specific objection to the fact that we have people being deported from Australia who we consider to be Australians.”

The boy was deported alone, and it’s understood he is the first minor to be sent back under the scheme.

Under current Australian laws, visa holders who are sentenced to at least 12 months in jail face mandatory deportation. For New Zealand citizens who have spent the majority of their lives in Australia, however, the practice can see them returned to a country they have little connection to.

The New Zealand government has repeatedly criticised Australia for deporting New Zealand citizens after they complete their jail terms in Australia, with Ms Ardern accusing Australia of deporting their problems.

SBS