Towards the surveillance state

Parliament is about to pass the government's surveillance state legislation with a majority of one vote

2000 at town hall against GCSB bill

Radio New Zealand,

20 August, 2013

Nearly 2000 people were at Auckland town hall on Monday night to protest against the impending passing of the GCSB bill.

Lawyers, academics, policitians and activists all voiced disquiet about the legislation that will allow the Government Communications Security Bureau to spy on New Zealanders.

A number of those attending felt Prime Minister John Key was trying to mislead the public about the need for increased spying powers.

One of them said there had not been any kind of terrorist attack in New Zealand that would justify such an instrusion into people's privacy.

PM to deliver final reading speech on GCSB bill

Radio New Zealand,

20 August, 2013

The Prime Minister intends to put on record the details of how he sees the GCSB bill being implemented, so he will be in Parliament to deliver the speech for its third and final reading.

The bill allows the Government Communications Security Bureau to carry out surveillance on New Zealanders, and introduces stronger oversight of the electronic spy agency and more transparency surrounding it.

The bill will return to Parliament for its committee stages on Tuesday afternoon. If that is completed, the third and final reading will most likely be on Wednesday.

It will pass with a one vote majority, with the support of ACT and United Future.

Bill will enable border arrests of tardy student loan debtors

Radio New Zealand,

20 August, 2013

Legislation allowing the Government to arrest at the border people who refuse to repay their student loan, and require those living overseas to increase their repayments, has been introduced to Parliament.

The changes were flagged in the Budget in May.

The bill gives the Inland Revenue Department new powers to deal with a small group who persistently refuse to repay their loans.

That includes the ability to issue an arrest warrant at the border, for the most serious cases.

Currently overseas borrowers make payments based on a percentage of their loan balance. The bill will change the percentage payments to a fixed amount so the loan is repaid more quickly.