Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon have called on Israel to reconsider its plans to take over Gaza City. The leaders met in Queenstown, New Zealand, on Saturday for their second annual bilateral meeting, where they also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening security ties.
Speaking after the meeting, Luxon described the latest Israeli military action as 'wrong' and said it risked violating international law. Albanese echoed the sentiment, stating that Australians want to see a ceasefire and an end to the killing. Both leaders rejected the notion that possible US trade retaliation over recognising Palestinian statehood would influence their positions.
The meeting also covered defence cooperation, trade, and economic growth, with both countries pledging to coordinate closely on economic reform. However, tensions over New Zealand deportations from Australia were also discussed, with Albanese defending Australia's right to prioritise its safety while calling for a 'commonsense approach'.
On China, the leaders noted they had each made successful recent visits, with Albanese stating they would 'cooperate where we can and disagree where we must'. The meeting concluded with a warm exchange between the two leaders, underscoring the strength of the trans-Tasman alliance.
