Key justifies fascist legilslation

Big Lies to justify fascist legislation

Now you see it, now you don't.

These were the headlines this morning on Radio New Zealand that woke me up out of my recovery from my operation - that were pushed out of the headlines by saturation coverage of the bombing in Boston – and then by the time I got home, and onto the computer, the story had changed.

The news was that Key was justifying his fascist changes to GCSB legislation with charges that New Zealanders were using local technology to produce weapons of mass destruction.

As usual Key tries to deflect and weapons of mass destruction have metamorphosed into “weapons of mass destraction”.

This is, along with the removal of lawful protest at sea a dangereous removal of civil and human rights that New Zealanders have always enjoyed.

Make no mistake, despite the fact that no elections have been cancelled, this constitutes the introduction of real fascist power, that is represented by the removal of the rights of New Zealanders to fight back against the melding of state and corporate power.

Listen carefully to the words of Nicky Hager who is the only person in the mainstream to grasp the full import of this act.

Nicky Hager talks about propsed changes to BGSCB legislation

PM justifies GSCB law changes

Prime Minister John Key has spoken of people trying to use New Zealand technology to build weapons of mass destruction, to justify law changes for the Government Security Communications Bureau.

Radio NZ,

16 February, 2013

Mr Key revealed the attemped espionage as he unveiled the proposed changes to the Act governing the bureau, making it legal to spy on citizens and permanent residents of New Zealand.

He said that while he can't go into too much detail about the work the agency does, it helps to prevent international cyber espionage.

Mr Key said there have been covert attempts to acquire New Zealand science and technology for programmes relating to weapons of mass destruction or weapons delivery systems.

Mr Key said law abiding citizens have no reason to fear the agency.

On Monday, he confirmed planned changes to the Act governing the GCSB, after a report raised questions about the legality of 56 operations since 2003.

He also announced an inquiry into how the report was leaked to the media, a week before its scheduled release.

Comment

The Green Party is accusing the Prime Minister of scaremongering to get support for the law changes.

Co-leader Russel Norman said the bureau has shown to have a culture of operating outside the law.

Dr Norman said the Greens refuse to back the changes, in the absence of a wide ranging inquiry.

Key defends GCSB law changes

The Government has lifted the freeze on the Government Communications Security Bureau spying on New Zealanders in one narrow area involving defence, Prime Minister John Key said this morning

Stuff,

16 April, 2013

It froze the assistance after the Kitteridge report concluded it was potentially illegal, even when acting as agent for other arms of government, and in breach of the GCSB Act.

Key said the Solicitor-General had advised the partial lifting of the freeze for national security reasons.

''It's only in relation to defence as I understand it, and it's in relation to some very specific areas, I think for instance testing of equipment. But for the most part the ban is there - it is totally there for the SIS and it's totally there for police and it is mostly there for defence."

Key today also confirmed that at least one warrant he signed for the SIS related to technology that could be used in the building of weapons of mass destruction.

''One of them ... I know I signed a warrant that was directly related to this area,'' he said.

''Cyber-hacking not necessarily but that could be an element. It was in relation to what we believe was science and technology that was attempted to be exfiltrated from the individuals in New Zealand to be used in the production of weapons of mass destruction.''

He rejected Labour claims that he was just scaremongering over connections to weapons of mass destruction.

He would brief the opposition tonight at the Intelligence and Security committee tonight, but he did not expect then to change.

''They are acting like a bunch of kids.''

Labour leader David Shearer has accused Prime Minister John Key of "sexing up" intelligence to push through GCSB legislation "in a hurry."

He said it was "weapons of mass distraction" by Key.

"Frankly, our GCSB has always been working on cyber threats and that will continue.

"The question is not about that. The question is about GCSB spying on New Zealanders... I believe what he is doing is sexing up the intelligence information he's got to justify him rushing through legislation without a full independent inquiry.

"Let's face it, nobody knows what the threat is because he will now not reveal any of the details."

Parliament's Security and Intelligence committee will meet to be briefed on the law changes tonight.

Shearer said it was important to get cross party support for measures.

He confirmed Labour would revisit the GCSB Act and hold an independent inquiry should they get into government next year.

For general coverage of the story

For John Key's reaction -