Prime Minister John Key is being urged to raise the exclusion of expatriate New Zealanders from terrorism compensation during his two-day visit to Australia starting today.
Key is visiting Sydney and Melbourne to meet with financial and business leaders and give two keynote speeches.
New Zealanders have been excluded from the Terrorism Compensation Bill passed in Australia which provides cash support of up to $100,000 for residents who are injured in terror attacks overseas.
New Zealand rights advocate David Faulkner told ONE News he hopes Key will discuss the issue with his Australian counterpart Julia Gillard because New Zealanders living in Australia are being disadvantaged.
"We see tragedy after tragedy with New Zealanders being disadvantaged...how much is it going to take for these laws to be changed," Faulkner said.
ONE News Australia correspondent Steve Marshall told TV ONE'S Breakfast that journalists will today ask Key for reaction to the exclusion of expat Kiwis from the compensation.
"This is something that's been bubbling along for a long time now," Marshall said.
"It's to do with New Zealanders' rights in Australia. There were some changes done way back in 2001 which took away certain social security rights for New Zealanders.
"But there is a flow-on effect New Zealanders coming out here don't know about. And it's pretty unfair really when you take an unbiased look at it. So we'll certainly be putting those questions ot Mr Key today."
Not Australian residents
New Zealanders arriving in Australia after February 26, 2001 are not classed as Australian residents under social security law.
The rule means New Zealanders who arrived in Australia after that date cannot get immediate access to support payments like the dole.
Last year's Queensland floods highlighted the problem for New Zealand expats, when they were initially denied emergency assistance payments.
Key will give an address to a Trans-Tasman Business Circle lunch and will also deliver this year's John Howard Lecture in Sydney.
He will meet with representatives from the four major Australian banks in Sydney and Melbourne as well as business groups with interests in New Zealand, including the Business Council of Australia, Origin Energy, Rio Tinto and BlueScope Steel.
"This will provide a valuable opportunity to share thoughts on the latest global economic developments and their impact on the New Zealand and Australian economies," Key said in a statement.
"Australia is our largest trading and economic partner so it's important that we continue to work closely together on issues that affect both our countries."
The Prime Minister flies to Melbourne tomorrow and his visit ends in the afternoon.