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Summarised by Centrist
For the first time, thousands of New Zealanders living in Australia will be voting in the country’s federal election on May 3 – the result of citizenship changes introduced under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Kiwis who have lived in Australia for four years as permanent residents can now apply for citizenship and to vote.
That’s led to a record number of New Zealanders enrolling, many of them drawn by Australia’s lower cost of living and better incomes.
Christchurch couple Peter and Sandra van Bruken, now living in Brisbane, say life across the ditch feels easier, and voting is compulsory. “We can finally vote, we have to vote,” they told 1News.
With over 350,000 New Zealanders now in Australia, Kiwi votes could be a factor in key battleground states like Victoria and New South Wales. Polls show a slight swing toward Labor, but both major parties are focused on cost of living, migration, and public services.
The leaders’ debate this week highlighted sharp contrasts: Albanese defended energy rebates and tax cuts, while opposition leader Peter Dutton warned that high migration was straining housing, health, and infrastructure. “A person is coming every 44 seconds… and we don’t have the housing to accommodate that,” he said.
For many Kiwi-Aussie voters, party loyalty matters less than policy. “I can feel there will be a change of government. Whether it’s better for us or not, I don’t know,” Peter said. “Whoever has the best policy for retirees may have some weight.”
