The prime ministers of New Zealand and Australia have announced a working group “to scope initiatives to move closer towards seamless travel across the Tasman”. In a press conference at the Beehive in Wellington, Chris Hipkins and Anthony Albanese spoke of a “seamless experience”, though that did not extend to a shared passport. The expert group will return its findings within a year.
“We agreed it’s worthwhile to re-engage on a process to find workable measures that would help trans-Tasman businesses and tourism with a simplified border,” said Hipkins. “But it’s not straightforward. Our border is a big part of what keeps us safe. It’s where we manage major biosecurity, people, health and security risks. This process will bring the experts together to talk about whether there are ways in which we reduce barriers at the border, while not compromising our security.”
Hipkins added: “Other areas of discussion included the threat of climate change to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the people of the Pacific; and the importance of working deliberately with our Pacific partners to support prosperity, peace and resilience in our region. Further afield, we reiterated our commitment to multilateralism and the international rules-based system and reaffirmed our condemnation of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.”
The prime ministers also spoke about sport, which they like very much.
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