Australia being always on its terms 'trouble': commentator

WELLINGTON - The trouble with being "friends" with Australia is that it is always on their terms, a commentator said on New Zealand's news media website Stuff earlier this year.

Compromise, co-operation, and concord are "not words in the dictionary of any Australian politician," John Bishop said in a commentary, adding that it has long been that way.

The commentator's scathing writing bust certain New Zealand politicians' bubble about being "friends" with Australia, referring to Australia's deportation of New Zealand-born criminals earlier this year, who were described by an Australian minister as "trash" taken out.

"Australia aspires to be deputy sheriff in the South Pacific and behaves like a bully. It also snuggles far closer to the US than we do," he added.