Media Alert: Urgent public meeting to stop the Search and Surveillance Bill
From: Campaign to Stop the Search and Surveillance Bill
Date: 29 August 2010

Members of the public and the media are warmly welcome to attend an urgent public meeting to stop the Search and Surveillance Bill

DATE: Monday, 30 August 2010
TIME: 7pm
VENUE: St. Josephs Church, Basin Reserve (just off Ellice/Brougham St, Mt Vic), Wellington

SPEAKERS: Michael Bott, NZ Council for Civil Liberties, Chester Burrows, Justice and Electoral Select Committee chair + Campaign spokesperson.

It’s back! The Search and Surveillance Bill returns. An interim report on the Search and Surveillance Bill was just issued by the Justice and Electoral Select Committee.

The report is an admission that the bill will confer enormous new powers onto approximately 70 government agencies. Submissions close on 3 September so we must make our voice heard now!

The report confirms that police will get a load of new powers: video surveillance where police trespass on private property will be legal; the circumstances in which audio bugging will be legal will dramatically increased from what it is at present. The threshold for warrantless searches is being lowered, as are the circumstances for setting up roadblocks.

Along with police, some 70 government agencies – from IRD to the Overseas Investment Office and the Pork Industry Board – will be able to apply to conduct video and audio surveillance and install as yet undeveloped surveillance devices into your home, car, community centre, church, marae, school, place of business, etc.

While the report indicates that these new powers will be slightly smaller than originally envisioned in the Bill, the overall thrust is the same: a massive increase in state power to surveil ordinary New Zealanders.

For more information email stopthebillnow@gmail.com or visit http://www.stopthebillnow.blogspot.com

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