Media statement
Thursday, 19 February 2009

Hon Peter Dunne
MP for Ohariu
Leader of UnitedFuture

Dunne increases pressure over unjust copyright law

In receiving a petition today for the repeal of Section 92A of the Copyright Amendment Act, UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne pledged to continue fighting to get rid of the clause that will see innocent New Zealanders having their internet disconnected.

Speaking to the demonstrators from the steps of Parliament, Mr Dunne said he was determined to have the “draconian and unjust:” section of the Act repealed, and has taken the matter up with both Prime Minister John Key and Justice Minister Simon Power.

“This really is a ‘guilt by accusation’ clause. As I’ve said, all of us who brought the Act in last year had no intention of legislating for people to have their internet connection cut for the mere accusation of internet piracy, and this needs to be fixed now.

“It’s urgent because this clause comes into effect on February 28 – and it’s an unjust law,” Mr Dunne said.

He said the clause was actually removed when the Act went through the select committee process last year, but “in the previous Government’s haste to ram through this legislation, the then Associate Commerce Minister Judith Tizard bowed to a small group of lobbyists and reinstated the section despite the fact that it had been removed by the select committee".

“No one supports piracy, but this clause is draconian – you don’t fix one injustice by creating another. This Government needs to repeal this clause,” Mr Dunne said.

“ISPs will have no choice but to disconnect any user accused of breaching copyright law, simply on the basis of the accusation, and that’s just not on.”

ENDS

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