PQ 7. Security Intelligence Service—Report on Release of Documents

[Sitting date: 27 November 2014. Volume:702;Page:5. Text is subject to correction.]

7. METIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister in charge of the NZ Security Intelligence Service : Does he agree with the findings of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security’s inquiry into release of NZSIS information to Cameron Slater?

Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Minister in charge of the NZ Security Intelligence Service): As the Minister responsible for the agency I am not in a position to agree or disagree with the findings. I can and do accept the findings and recommendations, and I am pleased the director has also accepted the recommendations and is acting on them now.

Metiria Turei : Does the Minister accept the finding of fact by the inspector-general that “SIS information was disclosed by a member of the staff of the Prime Minister’s office to Cameron Slater for political purposes.”?

Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON : I accept the findings of the inspector-general.

Metiria Turei : I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. That was not my question. My question—

Mr SPEAKER : I invite the member to repeat the question.

Metiria Turei : Does the Minister accept the finding of fact by the inspector-general that “SIS information was disclosed by a member of the staff of the Prime Minister’s office to Cameron Slater for political purposes.”?

Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON : As I have said, yes, I accept the findings of the inspector-general as she has stated them in her report, and it is important to emphasise I accept them as stated by her in her report—not necessarily as characterised by other members.

Metiria Turei : I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Minister has not answered my question. My question concerned a finding of fact that the inspector-general made.

Mr SPEAKER : If the member has an opportunity to go back and look at Hansard, she will see that in the second answer given by the Minister he has answered the question the member raised.

Metiria Turei : Does the Minister agree with the Prime Minister that the inspector-general’s finding of fact that Jason Ede passed SIS information to Cameron Slater for political purposes is “highly contestable”, and if he does not agree, why not?

Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON : I agree with everything the Prime Minister says. He said he accepted the findings. He did acknowledge, however, that some matters in the report were contested by one or other of the parties who gave evidence.

Metiria Turei : Does the Minister accept the finding of fact by the inspector-general that Mr Slater provided emails to the inspector-general in which Mr Ede, by his own admission, said he “might be in the shit” over his use of New Zealand SIS information?

Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON : As I have said, I accept all the findings of the inspector-general, particularly as characterised by her, as opposed to what some people may say are her findings.

Metiria Turei : How is it that the Minister can say he agrees with the findings of the inspector-general if he is also saying he does not accept the findings of fact on which her conclusions were made?

Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON : Sadly, that question was drafted before the answer to the primary question. I said I was not in a position to agree or disagree. I was not a primary fact witness, and I was not Cheryl Gwyn, who decided the matter. What I can and do say is that I accept her recommendations, I accept her findings, and I am very pleased that the director is acting on the recommendations now.

Metiria Turei : Does the Minister agree with the facts set out by the inspector-general, which she states, and I quote from her report: “SIS information was disclosed by a member of the staff of the Prime Minister’s office to Cameron Slater for political purposes.”?

Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON : Regrettably, I think that question could have been drafted before the answer to the primary question, as well, because what I said was that I neither agree nor disagree as the Minister responsible for the agency, but I accept her findings.

Metiria Turei : Perhaps the Minister could make it clear to the House and the public on whose side does he stand—the side of the facts found by the inspector-general, that Mr Ede gave SIS information to Mr Slater to help him write an Official Information Act request; or the side of the Prime Minister and Cameron Slater, who consider those facts contestable?

Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON : As the Minister responsible for the agency I am on the side of making sure that the agency at all times acts in accordance with the rule of law and particularly observes that very important principle, inserted in the legislation, about political neutrality. That is my concern.

ENDS

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