Clare
CURRAN
Communication and IT Spokesperson

5 April 2012 MEDIA STATEMENT
Has John Key ignored warnings on Huawei?

It appears the Prime Minister has ignored warnings from his own security agencies on Huawei’s involvement in our broadband infrastructure, Labour’s Communications and IT spokesperson Clare Curran says.

“Despite telling the House yesterday that he remained comfortable with New Zealand’s relationship with the Chinese telco – the same one the Australians have banned from tendering for broadband infrastructure - John Key admitted he had received advice in 2010 from security agencies.

“While he would not confirm being briefed by the Australians, who have acted decisively in their national interest, the fact that he remains unconcerned about New Zealand’s national security does not sit well with the actions of our closest neighbour and ally, with whom we share a cyber-security relationship,” Clare Curran said.

“Last week Mr Key was telling media that ‘we received good quality advice and we do the best to protect New Zealand businesses and consumers where we think that's necessary’. At the same time his Australian counterpart, Julia Gillard, was saying her government ‘took appropriate advice and used that advice to make our decision’.

“It is inconceivable that Mr Key was not briefed on Australia’s reasons for taking the decision it did or that he was not aware of security concerns about Huawei well before that. Yesterday he admitted reading a report from his security agencies in 2010.

“That report is understood to have pointed out there as nothing that could be done to totally counteract the compromising of our broadband infrastructure should Huawei be given the broadband contract.

“Reports from the UK now show Britain's Government Communications Headquarters - the country's top signals intelligence agency - had to check all the servers, routers, chips and hardware installed by Huawei after the company was allowed to take part in a large-scale broadband project in Britain.

“John Key’s habit of shrugging off inconvenient questions isn’t going to wash here. These are matters of national importance involving the security of some major new infrastructure and we need to know why New Zealand has taken such a different position to Australia on this issue,” Clare Curran said.

“Is it because New Zealand’s cyber-security measures are superior to the Australians? Or is it because John Key and his government have put making deals ahead of the national interest?

ENDS

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