Watchdog to probe claims govt used spy to smear opponents
The chief watchdog of New Zealand's spy agencies on Wednesday announced she will investigate claims that the government manipulated intelligence agencies to help smear domestic political opponents.
Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Cheryl Gwyn said she will start an inquiry into allegations that the Security Intelligence Service might have released official information to a right-wing blogger with links to the government, regarding briefings provided to the then-leader of the opposition Labor Party, Phil Goff, in 2011.
The allegations emerged last week in a book based on hacked Internet communications between Prime Minister John Key's then-communications adviser and right-wing blogger Cameron Slater.
Dirty Politics, written by investigative journalist Nicky Hager, claims the ruling center-right National Party facilitated an arms-length smear campaign operation through associated bloggers in order to maintain a "positive" image for Key, who is also the minister responsible for the SIS.
It said Slater's request under the Official Information Act for information on Goff's briefing was fast-tracked in order to release information to damage Goff.
"I am satisfied there is a sufficient public interest justifying the commencement of an own-motion inquiry into the substance of the issues raised with my office," Gwyn said on Wednesday.
The inquiry will consider whether the SIS acted properly and within the law, whether the documents issued to Slater were properly declassified, and whether other requests for similar information were treated in a consistent manner.
Key has repeatedly denied the allegations in the book, which he has branded a "left-wing smear campaign" in the run-up to the general election on Sept 20.
Goff welcomed the inquiry, saying it was necessary for the public to be confident the government was not manipulating the SIS to serve its own political purposes.
(China Daily 08/21/2014 page11)
