Green parties unite over prisoner's death

John Key raised concerns with Julie Bishop over the death of New Zealand-born Junior Togatuki while in detention. Photo / Supplied

Greens parties in Australia and New Zealand are jointly calling on the Australian Government to stop the indiscriminate deportation of New Zealand offenders from Australia.

"Every case is different and should be considered individually, " Australian Greens' immigration spokeswoman Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

"With multiple suicides and suicide attempts in recent weeks, it's clear the situation is untenable and an emergency network-wide audit of support services in required."

New Zealand Greens human rights spokeswoman Catherine Delahunty said that New Zealand made humanitarian exceptions on case by case basis for people who were in extraordinary circumstances, such as those of Junior Togatuki who took his own life this month in a Sydney detention centre where he was being held after completing a prison sentence for robbery and assault.

He was raised in Australia, having left New Zealand at the age of four.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop met New Zealand counterpart Murray McCully and Prime Minister John Key in New York yesterday and afterwards said the Australian Government would talk further about its policy of detaining and deporting non-Australian offenders who have served a prison sentence of a year or more.

Ms Bishop said she would ask Australia's Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to speak with New Zealand Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse but gave no indication the policy would be reviewed.

She said the New South Wales Police would investigate the death of Junior Togatuki, 23.

Togatuki, who had mental health illnesses, died in solitary confinement in Goulburn's Supermax prison.

Mr McCully said the investigation of Togatuki's death was in the hands of the authorities, but Ms Bishop "could not have been more helpful" in discussing the wider issue.

"Of course, it's a matter the Australians can make its own policies on but they clearly are happy to take into account any representations we make."

He and Mr Key had questioned whether the threshold at which the policy applied should be addressed given it now covered relatively minor offences.

"We've agreed to have further discussions, to put the immigration ministers on either side in touch with each other and just see what we can do about that issue."

Mr Key also intends to discuss it with Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who took over from Tony Abbott just over two weeks ago.

About 200 New Zealanders are being held in seven detention centres awaiting deportation, after Australia toughened its rules to deport criminals, some who had not lived in New Zealand for many years and committed relatively minor offences.

Ms Hanson-Young said that while she welcomed the investigation into Junior Togatuki's case she was also concerned about safety and mental health oversight more broadly across Australia's detention network.

"Australia's detention camps are notorious for their cruelty and it's no wonder other countries are starting to ask questions."