[asia-apec 973] Spy law change - NZ

[Gatt Watchdog]

The Press, Christchurch, NZ, 16/12/98
New law may let SIS agents enter houses
By Cathie Bell
In Wellington

The Government is likely to introduce legislation this week to enable the
Security Intelligence Service to enter people's homes.

The Government is concerned that a Court of Appeal ruling that an SIS
interception warrant did not give agents the power to enter people's houses
would damage the ability of those agents to do their jobs properly.

The prime ministerial committee which oversees the SIS, the Government
Communications Bureau and the External Assessments Bureau, has been
considering options to deal with the court's ruling.

A spokeswoman for Prime Minister Jenny Shipley confirmed that a law change
was an option being considered but said further consideration was needed
before a decision on what to do would be made.

She said that consideration did not require another meeting of the committee,
made up of Mrs Shipley, Foreign Affairs Minister Don McKinnon, Labour leader
Helen Clark, and Labour foreign affairs spokesman Mike Moore, and could
probably be settled with a telephone call.

"It's certainly possible it could be this week.  The legislation will either
be this week or next year."

Miss Clark was unable to be contacted yesterday.

Green party co-leader and Alliance MP Rod Donald said sources had told him the
law change would be introduced today or tomorrow.

He said it was outrageous that a week after the Appeal Court ruled it was
illegal for SIS agents to enter people's houses, the Government was going to
"ride roughshod" over that decision and introduce a bill to make it legal.
Mr Donald said that was hasty and inappropriate.