Labor would deport visa holders convicted of crimes but tweak rules to ease New Zealand tensions

The Guardian understands a Labor government would ensure decisions better take into account the time a person has been in Australia

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A Labor government will make use of Australia's existing laws to deport visa holders who are convicted of crimes, but is expected to tweak the rules to ease strain on the relationship with New Zealand.

Labor has been ambiguous about whether it would reintroduce a stalled Coalition bill to strengthen" the character test - legislation that the opposition had regarded as a political wedge by the Morrison government.