‘Take responsibility’: New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern scolds Scott Morrison for stripping dual national terror suspect’s citizenship

The two leaders have crossed swords over a 26-year-old woman who has been detained in Turkey with two small children.

The New Zealand prime minister has furiously scolded Scott Morrison ahead of a scheduled meeting between the two over his government’s decision to strip Australian citizenship from a 26-year-old woman who is alleged to have joined the Islamic State terrorist group.

The woman, who was an Australia-New Zealand dual national, was detained while trying to enter Turkey from Syria with her two small children.

The Turkish government has provided no information about the case other than to say she “identified as a Daesh terrorist”, the infamous group also known as Islamic State.

The woman lived in Australia from the age of six and travelled to Syria with an Australian passport, but this was revoked under a national security policy that strips citizenship from suspected terrorists.

It’s a decision Jacinda Ardern furiously said was wrong as she slammed Mr Morrison “abdicating responsibility”.

“Our very strong view on behalf of New Zealand and New Zealanders was that this individual was clearly most appropriately dealt with by Australia,” Ms Ardern told reporters on Tuesday.

“That is where their family resides, that is where their links are, and that is the place from which they departed for Syria.”

A visibly angry Jacinda Ardern urged Scott Morrison to ‘take responsibility’. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

Ms Ardern said she “raised that issue directly with PM Morrison” and asked that the trans-Tasman allies work together to resolve the matter.

But she revealed she was infuriated to discover Australia had unilaterally revoked the woman’s citizenship.

“You can imagine my response,” Ms Ardern said during a heated spray.

“Since that time we have continually raised with Australia our view that the decision was wrong. We continue to raise that view.

“My concern, however, is that we have a situation where someone is now detained with two small children.”

The New Zealand leader said she was determined to ensure the children were freed from detention and called on Australia to play their part.

“If the shoe were on the other foot, we would take responsibility,” Ms Ardern said. “That would be the right thing to do and I ask of Australia that they do the same.”

Scott Morrison stands by the decision to revoke the woman’s citizenship. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

The lashing ensures a scheduled meeting between the two leaders later on Tuesday will be a frosty confrontation, but Mr Morrison said he had no option but to follow Australia’s policy.

“My job is Australia’s interests,” he told reporters in response to the verbal spray from across the Tasman. “That’s my job. And it’s my job as the Australian prime minister to put Australia’s national security interests first.

“The legislation that was passed through our parliament automatically cancels the citizenship of a dual citizen where they’ve been engaged in terrorist activities of this nature. And that happens automatically. And that has been a known part of Australia’s law for some time.”

Mr Morrison refused to provide any details about the case, insisting the matter would be best left to discussions between the two leaders.

“There is still a lot more unknown about this case and where it sits and where it may go to next. And so, I think that that will also be a subject for the discussions,” the Prime Minister said.

“But Australia's interest here is that we do not want to see terrorists who fought with terrorism organisations enjoying privileges of citizenship, which I think they forfeit the second they engage as an enemy of our country. And I think Australians would agree with that.”