Australia, New Zealand to celebrate pyjama diplomacy

It's pyjama diplomacy for Australia tonight as Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull hosts his New Zealand counterpart at his luxurious waterfront mansion in Sydney.

Turnbull, who decided to stay in his Point Piper mansion in Sydney's eastern suburbs instead of moving into the official prime ministerial Sydney residence called Kirribilli House, will wine and dine with his trans-Tasman counterpart, Prime Minister John Key, News Corp. reported on Friday.

However, it what appears an unprecedented step for an Australian leader, Key will then have a "sleepover" and spend the night at Turnbull's private residence.

Such shows of personal hospitality for any foreign leader are quite rare, which raises the diplomatic question of whether any other head of state visiting Australia will be treated in the same way, local political commentators have pondered.

Key is meeting with Turnbull in Sydney on Friday for the annual Australia-New Zealand leaders meeting and the Trans-Tasman Business Circle lunch.

It's expected that the two leaders will discuss the regional issues including asylum seeker policy, the cancellation of NZ visa's to Australia, bilateral trade and regional and global security issues.

Key is also hoping to make progress on the welfare of New Zealanders who now call Australia home, but aren't able to access Australia's social services that other permanent residents can because the special visa category they are classed under. Endit