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Dear Leader, GCSB, and Kiwis in Wonderland…

1 October 2012 12 comments

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As the Dotcom-GCSB Affair drifts further into ‘The Twilight Zone‘ (or Wonderland),  we learn the latest anouncement that Secretary of Cabinet, Rebecca Kitteridge, will be seconded to the GCSB to oversee a review of the Bureau.

The NZ Herald reports,

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Full story

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The Herald lists Ms Kitteridge’s responsibilities to include:

  • Review the systems, processes and capabilities underpinning the GCSB’s collection and reporting,
  • Build capability and provide assurance to the GCSB director that the compliance framework has been reviewed, improved and is fit for purpose.
  • She will establish new, specific approval processes for activity in support of police and other law enforcement agencies.

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Meanwhile, NZ First Leader, Winston Peters, managed to extract this gem from Dear Leader during Question Time in Parliament,

Government Communications Security Bureau—Briefings Since November 2008

3. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) to the Prime Minister: How many times has he been formally briefed by the Government Communications Security Bureau, by year, since November 2008?

Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) : My diary indicates that I have been formally briefed by the Government Communications Security Bureau the following number of times, by year, since 2008: twice in 2008, 15 times in 2009, 11 times in 2010, 10 times in 2011, and 15 times in 2012.

Source: Parliamentary Hansards, 25 September 2012

Key’s response is extraordinary for two reasons,

  1. He gave a serious answer and not the flippant, juvenile wise-cracks he normally indulges in (which, we, the taxpayer, have to pay for as he wastes Parliamentary time)
  2. The answer he gave revealed that Key had met with the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) fifteen times this year alone – and the subject of GCSB surveillance on Kim Dotcom – possibly one of the most colourful, controversial, and contentious people in the country – was never raised once?!?!

John Key. Met. With. The. GCSB. Fifteen. times.

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It is worthy to note that Ms Kitteridge’s  three areas of responsibilities,

  • Review the systems, processes and capabilities underpinning the GCSB’s collection and reporting,
  • Build capability and provide assurance to the GCSB director that the compliance framework has been reviewed, improved and is fit for purpose.
  • She will establish new, specific approval processes for activity in support of police and other law enforcement agencies.

… and nowhere is it written that she should ask the question on all our minds: how can the Prime Minister – the one man who has oversight  over the SIS and GCSB – not have discussed Kim Dotcom with either of the Security Agencies?

There can be only two possibilities;

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Key lied – and the matter of Dotcom was discussed.

#2.

The GCSB deliberately witheld this matter from the Minister in charge of the GCSB.

Either way,

Why are there no resignations/sackings?

Why is Ms Kitteridge not charged with finding out the truth of this issue?

Why is John Key refusing a full inquiry on this issue?

Why did Bill English sign off on a warrant to suppress the GCSB’s wrongdoing?

Who lied?

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Sources

Parliamentary Hansards, 25 September 2012 (25 Sept 2012)

Inspector-General’s report released by PM (27 Sept 2012)

Dotcom case: GCSB review ordered (1 Oct 2012)

Cabinet Secretary to head review of spy agency (1 Oct 2012)

Other Blogs

5AA Australia: Across The Ditch With Sean Perry & Selwyn Manning – The Illegal GCSB Spying Scandal

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Categories: The Body Politic Tags: , , , , ,