Countering Terrorist Fighters Bill Set To Be Debated

When Parliament resumes its final three week session for the year it is expected the Government will introduce new security legislation.

Prime Minister John Key released a draft of the bill over the weekend (Draft_Countering_Terrorist_Fighters_Legislation_Bill.pdf ) and said the Government wanted the first reading completed today. The bill would then go through a curtailed select committee process and the Government hoped to pass it before Christmas.

The main proposals contained in the legislation are:

• Extending the period the Minister of Internal Affairs can cancel a passport to up to three years from the existing law’s 12 months

• Giving the Minister of Internal Affairs the power to temporarily suspend passports for up to 10 working days in urgent cases

• Allowing the NZ Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) to carry out video surveillance on private properties for the purpose of observing activities of security concern, modelled on the Police’s powers in the Search and Surveillance Act

• Allowing the NZSIS to conduct emergency surveillance for up to 48 hours prior to the issue of a warrant, with the approval of its Director and subject to the oversight of the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security.

After Question Time at 2pm it is expected there will be a number of applications for urgent debates on events while the House was adjourned.

Other business on the Order Paper includes the second readings of the Education Amendment Bill (No. 2), Parole Amendment Bill and Commerce (Cartels and Other Matters) Amendment Bill.

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