“Get Your SIS File Now – Don't Let the SIS Hide Behind Fear-mongering Twaddle.”

Friday this week is the last day for submissions against the SIS Amendments Bill, a bill that John Key said there was no need for New Zealanders to know about as he also announced that submissions were to be heard in secret.

To this end, OASIS will be helping out the day before by having a SIS information desk on Lambton Quay.

Supporters of OASIS (Organising Against State intelligence services) will assist people in applying for their SIS files, have information about making submissions, and in general discuss surveillance and state security in this society.

“We already know,” said Anna Cocker of OASIS, “that the SIS has files on over 6,700 New Zealanders. So if people are keen to see if they have a file, we will be outside the Westpac Bank, upper Lambton Quay, on Thursday lunchtime with information about how to go about it.

“And unlike John Key, we'll be completely transparent and will be willing to talk about the Bill and its ramifications – instead of hiding behind fear-mongering twaddle about terrorism and organised crime.”

OASIS summarises the Bill as giving increased protection from liability for SIS agents, expanding the powers of the SIS to snoop and spy, allowing warrants to be granted without naming those assisting in its execution and also allowing the Director of the SIS to delegate powers.

OASIS believes that the SIS already have too much power. They already can do what is otherwise illegal in NZ to gather information. They already have the power to spy on a person's 'communication, document, or thing'. The Director already has immense powers to snoop and spy, and the actions of the SIS are already clocked in secrecy.

“We do not need more hidden layers,” said Anna. “This Bill stinks. It is one part of the ever-increasing pile of legislation that is steadily chipping away at century old civil liberties that many people take for granted.

“This Bill needs to be stopped, along with the Search and Surveillance Bill and the iGovt register. The more of these repressive, regressive laws and policies that are passed, the closer we are to living in the framework of a neo-fascist state. And it will be our children who will get to experience the dystopia that has been made.”
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