Anthony Albanese has told his New Zealand counterpart that Labor would continue to deport Kiwi criminals where it is in Australia’s national interest while he and Christopher Luxon agreed that cross-Tasman engagement on the AUKUS Pillar II agreement makes sense for both countries.

Mr Luxon said New Zealand and Australia would work “in lockstep” to boost defence links and left open the possibility of a new joint general-purpose frigate project as part of his government’s ongoing defence strategic review.