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- Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said the Federal Government is open to the idea of locking up the Christchurch mosque terrorist behind bars in Australian
- Brenton Tarrant, who moved to New Zealand from Australia in 2017, is the first person to ever receive a life sentence without parole in New Zealand
- Now, New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Winston Peters, is calling for Tarrant serve his life sentence in Australia
- The Australian Prime Minister said he will have open discussions about the issue with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
- As it stands, no formal request for Tarrant’s transfer has been made
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said the Federal Government is open to the idea of locking up the Christchurch mosque terrorist behind Australian bars.
New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, has been leading calls for Brenton Tarrant, who received New Zealand’s first-ever life sentence without parole, to serve his time behind bars in Australia.
Tarrant, who moved to New Zealand from Australia in 2017, is set to die behind bars after pleading guilty to killing 51 people and injuring 40 more in a horrific terror attack last year.
This week, the New Zealand Deputy PM demanded that Tarrant be deported back to Australia for the remainder of his sentence to save New Zealand having to pay the cost of keeping him detained.
“Now is the time for Australia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Peter Dutton, to receive and carry out the terrorist’s sentence in Australia,” Minister Peters said.
“The Islamic community and all of New Zealand has already suffered enough without having to pay astronomical prison costs to keep him safe in our prison system,” he said.
Scott Morrison “open” to the idea
Speaking to Channel 7’s Sunrise today, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he will have an open discussion with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about the issue.
“I know all Australians and all New Zealanders would want this character locked up forever and never see the light of day again, and I agree with that,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“Whether he’s held in New Zealand or Australia, we’re open to that discussion,” he said.
He said at the forefront of the discussions will be the families directly impacted by Tarrant’s act of terror.
“Most of all, we’re concerned about what the views of the families would be,” he said.
“We want to do the right thing by them.”
The Prime Minister stressed that as it stands, no formal request for Tarrant’s transfer has been made.
