Alliance to support Intelligence and Security Committee Repeal Bill

The Alliance has told Green MP Keith Locke that they will be supporting his private members bill, likely to come up tonight, which would abolish the Intelligence and Security Committee.

"I welcome the Alliance support for my bill, which aims to transfer oversight of the intelligence services from the narrow and secretive statutory Intelligence and Security Committee to a normal select committee," said Mr Locke.

"The bill is an important measure, which would make our security services more accountable to Parliament.

"The existing oversight system, both the statutory committee and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, continues to show its shortcomings," he said.

"The Inspector-General justified the SIS raid on Aziz Choudry's home. And just this week Christchurch lecturer David Small was awarded $20,000 against the police for an unjustified search on his home," said Mr Locke.

"Even though this was a police matter, the Inspector-General also investigated the Small case (because of its SIS link), and said the search was 'not unreasonable'.

"There are continuing concerns that our security services are overly focussing on the activities of lawful political dissenters, like Mr Choudry and Mr Small," said Mr Locke.

"My bill will address these concerns."

Ends

Keith Locke MP: 04 470 6710, 025 528 353 Jonathan Hill (press secretary): 04 470 6719, 021 110 1133

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