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Greens want multi-party support of spy law change

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 7 Mar 2016, 3:02pm
Green co-leader Metiria Turei (Getty Images)
Green co-leader Metiria Turei (Getty Images)

Greens want multi-party support of spy law change

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Mon, 7 Mar 2016, 3:02pm

UPDATED 5.56PM The Green Party wants Labour to give up one of its spots on the Intelligence and Security Committee, to ensure multi-party support when changes are made to our spy laws.

Labour's getting an unusual backer, in the form of the Prime Minister.

John Key said there are only two spots for opposition politicians, and his personal view is that it's right for Labour to take them.

"If the Greens were on you'd only have one Labour member and in reality, if you think about it from a proportional point of view, if you're Greens then why wouldn't you potentially have New Zealand First or someone else."

The Green Party wants the Government to get multi-party support, not just bi-partisan, for its review of intelligence laws.

Findings from a review of the country's spy agencies, conducted by Sir Michael Cullen and Dame Patsy Reddy, are expected to be tabled in Parliament this week.

SEE ALSO: Changes to spy laws likely

Key indicated last week he wants bi-partisan support for any law changes, but Green Party Co-Leader Metiria Turei said Key should seek the support of all parties.

"If John Key wants to make sure that we have good quality security and intelligence legislation, where the rights of New Zealand citizens are protected and the agencies are able to do their job, then he needs more than just Labour and National on board."

Turei said all political parties should have access to the unredacted version of the pending report so they can make fully informed decisions about whether a law change is actually needed.

"We wouldn't be able to make an informed decision with the redacted version, of course not. We need access to all the information," she said.

"There's no reason why other political parties shouldn't have access to the full report."

The Labour Party sees no reason for the review of the country's intelligence agencies to not be made public in its entirety.

While not yet able to comment on the review's contents, Andrew Little said its entire contents should be made publicly available to everybody, including opposition parties.

"It seems to me there's nothing in the report that warrants redaction. There is nothing that compromises the security agencies and how they go about doing their job so I don't see any reason for any redaction."

Little said the report does throw up some issues around privacy.

"We will need to make a judgement about whether the security agencies need any new powers.

"If we can get agreement with the government on that balance being properly struck, then there's no reason why we can't proceed with a consensus."

Key said the report will be released in full.

"Well it was written in a way that was not redacted and should be released in full".

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