David Shearer: GCSB Bill and Fonterra Milk Scandal

At his weekly pre-caucus press conference Labour Leader David Shearer spoke about the GCSB Bill, which is be discussed clause-by-clause in parliament today, as well as Fonterra's botulism contamination scare.

Mr Shearer said Labour would table an amendment to the GCSB Bill in Parliament today that would see an independent review carried out. Any legislation that came out of the review would replace the spy bill currently being debated.

MPs will debate the committee stage of the Government Communications Security Bureau and Related Legislation Amendment Bill in Parliament this afternoon, and will go through the bill clause by clause.

Mr Shearer said the new law would come into affect within 12 months of the current spy legislation passing.

Labour had support from the Greens for an independent review.

Mr Shearer said he would like to drag out the debate on the bill to give the public a chance to have a more of a look at at it.

It has been reported that opposition parties would filibuster the passing of the bill.

On the Fonterra milk contamination scandal, Mr Shearer said he stood by the government in trying to restore New Zealand's relationship with its important trading partners.

Dairy exports had been a fantastic earner for NZ but the economy needed to more diverse, he said.

“Manufacturing and high-tech industries in New Zealand create the jobs that keep young New Zealanders in this country.”

The issue was a worry for New Zealand's branding and there would have to be a lot of work done to overcome the negative perception of New Zealand exports.

Changing information coming from Fonterra had also added to the perception that Fonterra was not on top of the crisis, he said.

There was a number of questions that needed to be asked of Fonterra, but those were for the coming days. The focus needed to be on being on reassuring parents and foreign markets that New Zealand's food was safe to eat, Mr Shearer said.

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