Attacks on the federal government's budget broken promise have spread across the ditch, with the New Zealand government sinking the boot in over the tax shake-up.
New Zealand's coalition government has used the budget to launch a brazen pitch for Australians to relocate, with Finance Minister Nicola Willis reaching for the classic Aussie tourism pitch.
"Where the bloody hell are ya? Come over," she told journalists in Wellington this week, as reported by The Post.
"You're welcome. Come and invest in New Zealand. We do not have a capital gains tax. Our inflation rate is lower."
Ms Willis continued: "This is a government that isn't planning to raid you with more taxes."
"We would love to welcome more Australian investors. We would love to welcome home many more Kiwis. We would love Australians to look at us as a place to invest their talent, their time and activity."
Ms Willis' comments are both an extraordinary breach of a diplomatic standard - the practice of not commenting on another country's domestic politics - and a cheeky play during an election year.
As it seeks a second term, the coalition government is campaigning against NZ Labour's own plans for a capital gains tax.
Following her comments to journalists, the National deputy leader linked Australian Labor's broken promise to NZ Labour's plans in a social media blitz.
"Take a look across the ditch. Last year, the Australian Labor party promised not to expand its capital gains tax," she said.
"And guess what? Now they are. That is exactly what would happen in New Zealand."
The economy is a key issue on the road to New Zealand's November 7 election.
Through its first term, the National-led coalition have battled mass emigration of Kiwi citizens due to lacklustre conditions.
The trans-Tasman brain drain has returned to record levels following the restoration of post-pandemic travel norms, as Australia's economy out-performs New Zealand.
Unemployment in New Zealand is at 5.3 per cent, near a decade-long high, while the Australian dollar is also 13-year highs against the Kiwi.
However, the Kiwi downturn means New Zealand has lower interest rates and inflation, as both Ms Willis' government and the central bank attempts to coax growth from the doldrums.
This year, Australian politics are also infecting the Kiwi campaign.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins is borrowing from Anthony Albanese's successful 2025 campaign in several ways.
Mr Hipkins has announced every Kiwi will receive a new national "Medicard" that will give free healthcare, saying Kiwis will need that and "not your credit card" when they go to GPs, a direct rip-off line from Mr Albanese's campaign.
Labour has also spruiked a slogan "Future Made in New Zealand" at party events, mimicking the ALP's "Future Made in Australia" motto from last year.
This week's attack by Ms Willis is not the first levelled by this coalition government on Australia and its politics.
In 2024, Prime Minister Chris Luxon quipped in parliament that "in my dealings with Australians it always pays to be incredibly simple" while justifying the removal of Maori language.
Earlier this year, Foreign Minister Winston Peters offered a broadside at Liberal instability, saying he was "aghast" at the "inexcusable churn" after Sussan Ley was dumped as leader.
"What is going on with you, when you think that personal ego is the most important thing to elevation?" he told AAP.
As for this week's trans-Tasman biff, it's unlikely to cause a rift given the closeness of the two countries, and their top economic ministers.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Ms Willis describe each other as great friends and have gone jogging together on the side of international summits.
Ms Willis also spent this year's Anzac Day in Dr Chalmers' electorate.
