Australia’s foreign minister Julie Bishop says she is “looking forward” to working with the newly elected New Zealand government led by Labour’s Jacinda Ardern, despite saying in August she would find it “very hard to build trust” with some members of her party.
One month after the election, NZ First leader Winston Peters announced on Thursday he was forming a coalition government with Labour, ending nine years of National rule.
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"The Australian government is looking forward to working with the Ardern Government because we have such a deep and strong and close connection," Ms Bishop said on Friday morning.
Asked whether her previous comments would risk the trans-Tasman relationship, Ms Bishop said "absolutely not". On Twitter, she said claims she had damanged diplomatic links were “rubbish”.
But back in August, Ms Bishop accused NZ Labour of colluding with the Australian Labor in an effort to unseat Barnaby Joyce over his dual citizenship.
NZ Labour MP Chris Hipkins had asked a question in NZ parliament about whether a child born in Australia to a Kiwi father would automatically have citizenship. Ms Bishop said that question led to a chain of events that triggered legal questions over Barnaby Joyce’s dual citizenship, which .
"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," Ms Bishop said at the time.
At the time, Ms Ardern said Ms Bishop was making “false claims” that were “highly regrettable”, although she also said the question in NZ parliament “shouldn’t have happened”.
Ms Bishop said she accepted Ms Ardern's "explanation".
"I have accepted her explanation and we move on. I'm looking forward to working with the Ardern Government as Australia and NZ continues to deepen and strengthen our most unique bond," the foreign minister said.
Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has called the new NZ leader and congratulated her.
But employment minister Michaelia Cash on Thursday night suggested the new NZ government may be destined to fail.
"History shows that unfortunately the last time the Labour, Greens and independents formed government it didn't end well," Senator Cash told 2GB radio, before praising the previous government led by John Key and Bill English.
Labor's foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said the Turnbull government must take immediate action to rebuild relations with the incoming New Zealand government following Ms Bishop's attack on Ms Ardern.
"We don’t put our diplomatic relations into that domestic political fight, and it was most unwise for the foreign minister to do so," Senator Wong told Sky News on Friday.
It was Senator Wong's chief of staff who sparked the NZ Labour questioning.
Ms Ardern said she will visit Australia as soon as possible.
- with wires
