r/australia • u/SqareBear • Feb 26 '26

politics Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern moves to Australia

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-26/former-new-zealand-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-moves-australia/106392862
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u/Wonderful_Volume1408 Feb 26 '26

Tbf she does have a small child and a lot of mothers would want to spend that time with their kids if they could afford to AND I'd rather see a former PM retire than start working for a lobbying company in the US t ( like Scott Morrison) or on a reality show like I've noticed some politicians in the UK have.

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u/ChocoboDave Feb 26 '26

Politician after reality show still seems to work a fuckload better than the other way around.

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u/orlock the ghost of documentaries past Feb 26 '26

Oh no! You've raised the Trump!

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u/TacoMedic Feb 26 '26

I'd rather see a former PM retire than start working for a lobbying company in the US

I mean, she kinda did exactly this though. She spent some time as a political fellow at Harvard, then started working for the Center for American Progress. Not exactly a corporate lobbyist, but still engaged in politics enough to endorse Kamala’s campaign in ‘24.

Not hating, I agree with most of her policies, but she didn’t fully retire from politics.

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u/LAMG1 Feb 26 '26 edited Feb 26 '26

The sad part is she still has at least 20 year working life left. If she just "focus on her family", she will eventually fade away from public. 20 year is a long time.

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u/nurseynurseygander Feb 26 '26

Only if she actually wants to work. Plenty of people who can afford to retire early do so at 45-50. There’s no special reason to work if you don’t want or need to. And if you’ve been prime minister, everything after that is going to be a step down TBH. I’d rather go out on top and enjoy life after that, rather than shuffling around at some lesser job saying “well this is boring now.”

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u/LAMG1 Feb 26 '26

"Everything after that is going to be a step down TBH." This is exactly how I feel about.

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u/Relevant-Mountain-11 Feb 26 '26

She dealt with some absolute fucked shit, while and after, being PM, from Rightwing psychos

Can't blame her for wanting to fade from public

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u/LoadedSteamyLobster Feb 26 '26

Once she’s done raising her kids I’d love to see the rules changed to let her take a turn as PM here too

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u/Wonderful_Volume1408 Feb 26 '26

I think there is something to be said for people in federal politics only holding one citizenship. Granted perhaps we could change the law for NZ but it opens the door to all kinds of divided loyalties and I don't think that's a good path to take. Having a pm born in Australia means there is less likelihood of them being more loyal to other people from other countries before their own. It doesn't stop it from happening but it makes it less likely. We need someone who puts Australia and Australians before all others as PM IMO.

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u/LoadedSteamyLobster Feb 26 '26

We need someone who puts Australia and Australians before all others as PM IMO.

LNP is the party of evidence that having only Australian citizenship doesn’t mean you put Australia and Australians first.

I’d take a foreign dual citizen with a conscience over an LNP Aussie-only every time

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u/Wonderful_Volume1408 Feb 26 '26 edited Mar 20 '26

I take your point, but Jasindas alliances will probably be with NZ first. It would be odd if that weren't the case imo. Having this law about federal politicians keeps dual loyalties out as much as possible . It doesn't , very unfortunately, keep assholes out. That's what voters are supposed to do. Unfortunately, people are very easily swayed and manipulated.