Grant Robertson
Associate Security and Intelligence Spokesperson

30 May 2014

Seller beware: Nats renege on Dunne deal

The National Government has proven once again it can’t be trusted on security and intelligence matters having reneged on its deal with Peter Dunne to review aspects of the controversial spy law, Labour’s Associate Security and Intelligence spokesperson Grant Robertson says.

“The Government Communications Security Bureau law – which had strong public opposition – only passed because the United Future leader struck a deal with National, ironically after he had his own private data misused.

“Peter Dunne said at the time he was a ‘willing seller’ and the Government was a ‘willing buyer’.

“This has been a terrible trade.

“There was supposed to be changes around treatment of metadata. But this is on hold pending a Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet review of security agencies.

“New Zealanders who rallied against the law will be rightly concerned that no review has taken place.

“Labour has been calling for a review of our spy agencies for almost two years. That review should have been completed by now.

“John Key's actions have directly harmed New Zealanders’ confidence in our security and intelligence agencies. He manipulated the process to appoint his friend as head of the GCSB, oversaw illegal spying by the GCSB and has failed to be up front about the Kim Dotcom case.

“A Labour government will launch an independent review of New Zealand’s spy agencies so Kiwis can once again trust those who are tasked with protecting us and our country,” Grant Robertson says.

ENDS

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