29 July 2013

Defence Force Says No Monitoring Took Place

The Chief of Defence Force has never authorised any Defence Force personnel to undertake unlawful interception of private communications of the type outlined by Mr Hager in his Sunday Star Times article.

With regard to this matter, the Acting Chief of Defence Force, Major General (MAJGEN) Tim Keating, says:

“I have asked the officers responsible for our operations in Afghanistan whether they have conducted monitoring of Mr Stephenson as alleged by Mr Hager and they have assured me that they have not. This includes asking foreign organisations to do this on our behalf.

“We have identified no information at this time that supports Mr Hager’s claims.”

ENDS

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New Court Orders, Screening, Guardianship Changes...: Government Ignoring Poverty, Again

It remains to be seen if announcements today will better protect children, but the National Government is forgoing an opportunity to really help kids by ignoring the elephant in the room, which is poverty, Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei says.

"All the experts have told the Government that very low income is associated with higher rates of child maltreatment and neglect -- something which was totally ignored in the Government's Children's Action Plan and the announcements today," Mrs Turei said. More>>