20 May 2014

Drones Issue Raises Intelligence Concerns

Recent revelations about the possible involvement of the GCSB in providing information to assist United States’ drone attacks raises the need for a public debate about New Zealand’s co-operation with international intelligence agencies, says UnitedFuture leader, Peter Dunne.

“I actually called for such a debate last July, but that got lost in the fog surrounding the GCSB Bill before Parliament at the time.

“My point then was that the two issues (the GCSB Bill, and involvement with international intelligence agencies) were quite separate, and that the passage of the GCSB Bill did not of itself validate or justify the level and form of New Zealand’s involvement in international intelligence sharing agreements.

“They are separate matters of Government policy.

“My concern remains today – and has been highlighted by recent events,” he says.

Mr Dunne says he has no difficulty with New Zealand using or providing intelligence information to secure New Zealand’s interests or protect its citizens or military personnel serving overseas.

“Indeed, I suspect that accords with the views of most New Zealanders.

“But the issue of New Zealand sourced information being used for purposes that are not necessarily in New Zealand’s interests is something else, and that is what we need to some informed public discussion about,” he says.

ENDS

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