July 29, 2013

Media Statement

EPMU Print & Media Industry Council

Journalists’ union backs call for inquiry into intelligence services

The union representing journalists, the EPMU, supports calls for an inquiry into New Zealand's intelligence services after it was revealed that the New Zealand Defence Force has spied on a New Zealand journalist working in Afghanistan.

This report follows the revelation that records of the movements of Fairfax journalist Andrea Vance within the Parliamentary precinct had been handed to David Henry during his inquiry into who leaked a report into the Government Communications Security Bureau.

A free news media is fundamental to our democracy. Journalists cannot feel free to report without fear or favour if their movements and communications are being monitored by state security agencies.

Not only is it disturbing that such activities have taken place, but even more worrying is that no responsible government minister, including the Prime Minister, has yet condemned the practice.

In the most recent case information obtained by investigative journalist Nicky Hager reveal that the Defence Force had access to the phone records of journalist Jon Stephenson and used these to monitor Stephenson while he was in Afghanistan.

Hager's story - based on an internal Defence Force manual - also revealed that the NZDF categorised certain journalists as "subversives".

An inquiry is needed to discover how often journalists are monitored and why, not just by the Defence Force but also by other security agencies.

If the Government has nothing to hide it will have no fear of such an inquiry.

ENDS

© Scoop Media