2 December 2014

Bill an Improvement but More Work Needs to Be Done

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne says that while the revised Countering Foreign Terrorists Bill is an improvement on the Bill originally introduced to Parliament, it is still just a temporary measure which will need to be replaced.

“The changes recommended by the select committee go some way towards addressing my concerns about warrantless surveillance.

“However, my fundamental misgivings remain, which is why I will be pushing for a ground-up review of all surveillance rules and practices as part of next year’s review of the security services.

“That review will be able to take a more considered approach than was possible during the hurried Select Committee process on this Bill.

“I am pleased this Bill will now expire in 2017, not 2018 as originally proposed, which addresses another part of my concerns.

“I still hope this legislation can be replaced completely by then, but that will be subject to the forthcoming review process,” he says.

Mr Dunne says the importance of the 5 yearly review, which he secured as part of the GCSB legislation last year, will be significantly increased by the passage of this Bill.

“For example, I have been separately advised by the acting Attorney General on these matters that the issue of metadata about which I have previously expressed concern will now also be dealt with by this review.

“The challenge of the review process will be to update the GCSB and SIS legislation to ensure they are fit for purpose, while at the same time providing the maximum levels of accountability, transparency, and protection of the rights of the individual citizen,” he says.

Mr Dunne says that against that backdrop; the temporary nature of the current Bill; and the changes agreed by the Select Committee, he will not oppose its passage through Parliament next week.

ENDS

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