If Australia's Stable Population Party had its way, there would be a very clear message given to Kiwis contemplating crossing the Tasman... Picture / Herald Online
The number of kiwis living in Australia has jumped by 24 per cent over the past five years, with 483,000 New Zealanders now living across the Tasman.
Figures from the 2011 Australian census, released today, show that the number of New Zealanders living in Australia had rose by 93,934 from
390,000 when the last census was held in 2006.
The rise over the past five years is almost as much as the increase seen in the ten years previous to that, with the number increasing by 98,500 between 1996 and 2006.
The figures have been released as an Australian political party calls for a halt to the unlimited migration of New Zealanders to Australia.
The recently-formed Stable Population Party says the deal allowing Kiwis free access to Australia should be abolished, and that New Zealanders should have to apply to migrate, with total net immigration to Australia reduced from 180,000 to 80,000.
