Phil GOFF
Labour Leader
Thursday 4 August 2011

Labour Leader Phil Goff is adamant that he never read and was never shown a document by the SIS about the so-called Israeli spy investigation.

“The head of the SIS, Warren Tucker, has released a note under the Official Information Act to Cameron Slater from Whaleoil that has a notation on it showing he believes he showed me a document relating to the investigation during one of our regular meetings.

“I was not shown that document. I never read that document. Warren Tucker is wrong. He may have brought the document to the meeting but he never showed it to me. Mr Tucker acknowledges that I was never briefed on or shown two other documents the SIS compiled on the issue of the Israeli backpackers.

“He has since shown me the first document and I know I have never seen it before. He has also told me in writing that the NZSIS does not hold any acknowledgement from me as having read or received the document.

“I was never ‘briefed’ by the SIS. When asked to explain, Warren Tucker says he ‘flicked’ over the issue during a regular meeting with me but ‘didn’t dwell on it’. He says he probably suggested to me that it was not significant That is not a briefing or a discussion.

“The SIS also chose not to brief the Parliamentary select committee that oversees their activities.

“As Minister of Foreign Affairs during the Mossad incident in 2004, I would have had a keen interest in any new allegations and remembered any briefing clearly.

“I will not stand by and have my credibility questioned over this issue. In future, I will only meet with Warren Tucker or representatives of the SIS if there is someone independent in the room to keep a true and accurate record of what is discussed.

“It is interesting to note that the request for the note was made under the Official Information Act by National Party blogger Cameron Slater.

“Rather than the selective release of information, I call on the SIS and John Key to release all the documentation they have about the investigation into the Israelis and give a full and frank account of what happened to New Zealanders.”

ENDS

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