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| Julie Bishop doesn't need to apologise to Jacinda Ardern, Turnbull says | Julie Bishop doesn't need to apologise to Jacinda Ardern, Turnbull says |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Malcolm Turnbull has said there is no need for Julie Bishop to apologise to the incoming New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, despite the Australian foreign minister previously saying she would have difficulty working with New Zealand Labour. | Malcolm Turnbull has said there is no need for Julie Bishop to apologise to the incoming New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, despite the Australian foreign minister previously saying she would have difficulty working with New Zealand Labour. |
| On Thursday Bishop publicly congratulated Ardern, after New Zealand First leader Winston Peters chose to form government with Labour. | On Thursday Bishop publicly congratulated Ardern, after New Zealand First leader Winston Peters chose to form government with Labour. |
| In August it was revealed that New Zealand Labour MP Chris Hipkins had submitted questions about eligibility for New Zealand citizenship which assisted the Australian opposition to establish that the deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, was a dual citizen and therefore potentially ineligible to sit in parliament. | In August it was revealed that New Zealand Labour MP Chris Hipkins had submitted questions about eligibility for New Zealand citizenship which assisted the Australian opposition to establish that the deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, was a dual citizen and therefore potentially ineligible to sit in parliament. |
| The revelation prompted the defence industry minister, Christopher Pyne, to accuse Labor of engaging in a “conspiracy using a foreign government” to bring down the Australian government. | The revelation prompted the defence industry minister, Christopher Pyne, to accuse Labor of engaging in a “conspiracy using a foreign government” to bring down the Australian government. |
| At the time Bishop noted that “New Zealand is facing an election” and “should there be a change of government I would find it very hard to build trust with those involved in allegations designed to undermine the government of Australia”. | At the time Bishop noted that “New Zealand is facing an election” and “should there be a change of government I would find it very hard to build trust with those involved in allegations designed to undermine the government of Australia”. |
| On Friday, Turnbull told 3AW he had congratulated Ardern on Thursday and would work constructively with her, as former Australian prime minister John Howard had done with the former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark. | On Friday, Turnbull told 3AW he had congratulated Ardern on Thursday and would work constructively with her, as former Australian prime minister John Howard had done with the former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark. |
| “I have got no doubt we will work together effectively, confidentially and constructively as Australian and New Zealand prime ministers have done ... for generations,” he said. | “I have got no doubt we will work together effectively, confidentially and constructively as Australian and New Zealand prime ministers have done ... for generations,” he said. |
| “I am certainly looking forward to doing that ... I do expect to trust them.” | “I am certainly looking forward to doing that ... I do expect to trust them.” |
| Turnbull said Ardern had “deplored” and regretted the “political activity in New Zealand” when she discovered it. | Turnbull said Ardern had “deplored” and regretted the “political activity in New Zealand” when she discovered it. |
| “You’re better off not scratching away at past political episodes. I’m looking forward to a great relationship with the new government. [Ardern] is committed [to the relationship], I had a very good discussion with her last night,” he said. | “You’re better off not scratching away at past political episodes. I’m looking forward to a great relationship with the new government. [Ardern] is committed [to the relationship], I had a very good discussion with her last night,” he said. |
| Asked if Bishop needed to apologise, Turnbull replied: “No. No.” | Asked if Bishop needed to apologise, Turnbull replied: “No. No.” |
| Speaking to radio in New Zealand, Ardern said she appreciated congratulations from Turnbull and Bill Shorten. | Speaking to radio in New Zealand, Ardern said she appreciated congratulations from Turnbull and Bill Shorten. |
| “That is one of our most important relationships and that will continue under my leadership,” she said. “In fact, I flagged last night I’m very keen to make a trip to Australia as soon as I am able.” | “That is one of our most important relationships and that will continue under my leadership,” she said. “In fact, I flagged last night I’m very keen to make a trip to Australia as soon as I am able.” |
| At a press conference on Friday Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman, Penny Wong, said Bishop’s behaviour was “unwise” as she had brought “partisan politics into our relationship with New Zealand”. | |
| “The intemperate nature of her remarks has been demonstrated by the election of a New Zealand Labour government ... that she suggested that she would have difficulty in trusting.” | |
| Wong called on Bishop to “set about repairing the relationship”. | |
| At a press conference in Perth on Friday, Bishop said the Australian government was “looking forward to working with the new government because we have such a deep and strong and close connection” with New Zealand. | At a press conference in Perth on Friday, Bishop said the Australian government was “looking forward to working with the new government because we have such a deep and strong and close connection” with New Zealand. |
| Bishop said Ardern had offered an explanation “some months ago about the conduct of one of her colleagues whom I had criticised and she said [it] was wrong and inappropriate and should not have occurred and they should not have been involved, and I have accepted her explanation”. | Bishop said Ardern had offered an explanation “some months ago about the conduct of one of her colleagues whom I had criticised and she said [it] was wrong and inappropriate and should not have occurred and they should not have been involved, and I have accepted her explanation”. |
| Bishop said she was “delighted” Ardern had offered an explanation and she had “agreed entirely with her”. | Bishop said she was “delighted” Ardern had offered an explanation and she had “agreed entirely with her”. |
| “I absolutely accept her explanation and I thank her for it and I’m looking forward to working with the new government.” | “I absolutely accept her explanation and I thank her for it and I’m looking forward to working with the new government.” |
| Bishop denied that her comments had damaged the relationship between the two countries. She said she would contact the New Zealand foreign minister when appointed and looked forward to Ardern visiting Australia. | Bishop denied that her comments had damaged the relationship between the two countries. She said she would contact the New Zealand foreign minister when appointed and looked forward to Ardern visiting Australia. |
| In August, Ardern said she had not been aware that Hipkins had asked the citizenship questions and said he should never have done so. | In August, Ardern said she had not been aware that Hipkins had asked the citizenship questions and said he should never have done so. |
| But Ardern also expressed disappointment with the accusations, and criticised Bishop’s “false claims”. | But Ardern also expressed disappointment with the accusations, and criticised Bishop’s “false claims”. |
| “There has been absolutely no collusion between the New Zealand Labour party and the Australian Labor party when it comes to the situation the Australian deputy prime minister has found himself in,” she said. | “There has been absolutely no collusion between the New Zealand Labour party and the Australian Labor party when it comes to the situation the Australian deputy prime minister has found himself in,” she said. |