The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security
Cheryl Gwyn must explain the legal basis upon which she
appointed her new Reference Group, National’s Spokesperson
for GCSB and NZSIS Gerry Brownlee says.
“Following
questions raised yesterday about the group, the
Inspector-General issued a statement which fails to answer
the very simple question regarding the legal basis for
appointing the group.
“The Inspector-General says
that the group was set up to help her ‘stand in the shoes
of the public’ and inform her thinking.
“It’s
hard to fathom how this group will be able to give objective
advice on behalf of the public, given the very partisan
views of several of its members.
“For someone in a
role centred on ensuring our intelligence and security
agencies act lawfully and with propriety, it is worrying
that the Inspector-General has not yet explained what legal
basis she had for appointing the Reference
Group.”
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