2 August 2013

Dunne “Shocked Beyond Belief” About Email Release

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne says he was “shocked beyond belief” to learn this afternoon the Parliamentary Service had handed over to the Henry inquiry copies of the content of emails between himself and journalist Andrea Vance.

“While I understand this was an inadvertent action, and that the file was returned within a very short period of time to Parliamentary Services, this is a serious breach of privacy nevertheless as no approval had been given or even sought for access to this material .

“The material was released to the inquiry on 21 May – the day before Mr Henry asked for access to my emails, which I refused.

“While I am further given to understand that the file was unable to be opened by the inquiry and have been assured therefore that none of the emails were actually read by the inquiry, I am nonetheless extremely concerned and angry about this gross, unauthorised breach of personal privacy, especially since it was my refusal to authorise access to the content of those emails that brought about my resignation as a Minister,” he says.

Mr Dunne says he is currently taking legal advice on the remedies available to him in the light of today’s disclosure of the unauthorised – however brief – release of his emails.

“Today’s disclosure makes the forthcoming examination by the Privileges Committee of the way in which information was sought and released to the Henry inquiry all the more important.

“I am currently considering a request to give evidence to that Committee,” he says.

Ends

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