David Shearer - Spy Bill SOP at Committee Stage

Mr Shearer said he would be putting up a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) in Parliament today as the Government Communication Security Bureau Amendment Bill returns to the committee stage before its third and final reading tomorrow.

At his regular pre-caucus press conference in Wellington Mr Shearer said the SOP would seek a debate over issues that came out of Mr Key's television interview with John Campbell.

Labour want to see greater protection of New Zealanaders' communications enshrined in law as opposed to relying on Mr Key assurances that cyber security interceptions would not look at the content of communications.

“Rather than just saying 'trust me' lets put into the law,” Mr Shearer said.

He said Mr Key was wrong to say that Labour had not sought compromise with National over the legislation. Mr Shearer said he had talks with Mr Key on two occasions and that both times Labour had to initiate them. During the talks Mr Shearer had the “very strong impression” that the Govenrnment had the numbers to pass the bill and did not need Labour's support.

Mr Shearer said he had spoken to United Future leader Peter Dunne and had sent the SOP to him to look at. He had not spoken to any National MPs about voting against the bill.

He denied the SOP was just a tactic to slow the passage of the bill.

The bill is likely to pass with a one vote majority.

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