Rt Hon Winston Peters
New Zealand First Leader
24 September 2012

Prime Minister Shows Mega Disregard to Ministerial Roles

New Zealand First is demanding an absolute assurance from Prime Minister John Key that ordinary New Zealand citizens aren’t being illegally spied upon.

This follows news that the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) acted unlawfully while assisting the police to locate individuals subject to arrest warrants issued in the Megaupload case.

Rt Hon Winston Peters says the failure of Mr Key to provide adequate oversight of the GCSB and the NZ Security Intelligence Service – agencies which fall under his Ministerial responsibility – is a dereliction of duty.

“What confidence can the New Zealand public hold that our top security intelligence agency isn’t breaking laws and unlawfully spying on them?

“Mr Key’s shoddy handling of this issue seems to indicate that we are in the pocket of US intelligence agencies and that he allowed them to trample over New Zealand law.

“The Prime Minister has failed to be regularly briefed by GCSB officials. His claims about not knowing about Kim Dotcom until his arrest are evidence of that.

“The taxpayers of New Zealand are about to pay a fortune to Mr Dotcom because of the Prime Minister’s cavalier disregard for his responsibilities.

“Mr Key appears not to care about the security of New Zealanders, and is instead more concerned with photo opportunities, three-way handshakes at rugby games, and prancing down fashion runways,” says Mr Peters.

ENDS

© Scoop Media