27 September 2012

Time for full independent inquiry into GCSB

The report by the Inspector-General released today is five and a half pages of excuses aimed at justifying clearly illegal behaviour by the Government Communications Security Bureau, Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman said today.

The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security’s report released this afternoon report found the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) had acted wrongly in intercepting communications from New Zealand permanent resident Mr Kim Dotcom. Justice Neazor’s report suggested this illegality was because the GCSB was confused by changes to the Immigration Act in 2009.

“The Inspector-General was the wrong person for the Prime Minister to task with reporting on the GCSB’s clearly illegal behaviour,” said Dr Norman.

“One of the Inspector-General’s main functions is ensuring that the GCSB does not spy on New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.

“Justice Neazor was clearly unable to adequately monitor the GCSB’s conduct in the Kim Dotcom case and therefore had a conflict of interest in investigating the GCSB’s illegal actions.

“The Inspector-General’s report fails to explain why once a mistake had been made by the GCSB they failed to bring this to the attention of their the so-called watchdog – the Inspector-General himself.

“The report also lacks any detail around when the GCSB recognised they had made a mistake, why they failed to brief their responsible Minister John Key earlier than late September, and why they were unable to make basic checks on their targets immigration status,” Dr Norman said.

The Green Party considers the Prime Minister must institute a full independent inquiry into the many troubling aspects of the Dotcom case.

“John Key needs to apologise to the people of NZ for being relaxed about protecting their freedoms and privacy, and actually fulfil his statutory duties as the Minister responsible for the GCSB.”

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