We can't force equal treatment: Key

NZ Prime Minister John Key says it's risky to demand equal treatment for Kiwis in Australia. Source: AAP

THE cost of pushing Australia to treat New Zealanders equally across the ditch could be free labour access to the country, NZ Prime Minister John Key says.

Mr Key won't be using his impending trip to Australia to pressure Prime Minister Tony Abbott into equal treatment for New Zealanders across the Tasman, saying he knows the Australian government is not likely to move.

Tax-paying Kiwis on special category visas in Australia are denied some key benefits of permanent residency, such as disability care, welfare and social housing.

Australians in New Zealand are eligible for all benefits afforded to Kiwis.

"Of course we'd like to see more New Zealanders treated fairly and equally in Australia but that's ultimately an issue for the Australian government," he told reporters.

"There is a risk that the Australian government says 'OK we'll treat everybody the same', but the cost for that is that New Zealanders don't get the free access across the Tasman."

The New Zealand prime minister will next week announce details of his trip across the Tasman for the annual leaders' meeting.

"The issue here is whether ultimately the cost of forcing a change would be worth it," he said.

"You're not going to force them to change their mind."

Restrictions on benefits for Kiwis in Australia were brought in under a joint agreement between Australia's Liberal government and Helen Clark's Labour government in 2001.

Some had hoped a recently-elected Mr Abbott might soften the stance on benefits for Kiwis, given he's married to one.

As yet there hasn't been any indication that will be the case.

"In our view they should be treated fairly and equally," Mr Key said.

"But Tony Abbott doesn't run our policy-making over here in New Zealand and I don't run theirs over there."

Mr Key said he believed migrating Australians make New Zealand a better country, and in his opinion that is reciprocated.

"In the end, they run their own country. It's up to them to decide if they would be worse off if those New Zealanders came back."

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