GCSB BIll Being Debated Tues night

In a rushed move National is trying to push through the GCSB bill tonight, Tuesday 6th August. They are currently debating the bill. The public gallery is open or the debate can be listened to here: http://www.radionz.co.nz/parliament
or watched  on Parliament TV.

Media coverage of yesterday's meeting

Radio NZ's report about the meeting last night can be found here.

Protest the GCSB

The GCSB Bill will have its third and final reading this week - probably on Thursday. Once that's done, it's basically law - it'll just be waiting for royal assent. But people are still fighting.
 
At Monday's public meeting in Wellington, the following activities were planned:

Action: Tuesday 2pm, (06/08/13), at Peter Dunne's home: 31 Box Hill, Khandallah  in the Ohariu Electorate.

Put Dunne's home under surveillance

"The vulnerability of the GCSB Bill will be tested tomorrow at a protest against Peter Dunne.
Organisers of the protest have spoken to Peter Dunne's neighbours, who say they are also against the new spying powers of the GCSB Bill."

Action: Wednesday 3pm, (07/08/13), outside GCSB HQ, Pipitea House, Wellington

Surveil the Surveillers - Unmask the Spies - come dressed in a trench coat, wear dark glasses, bring a surveillance camera, masks and a whistle or two.

Pipitea House houses an interesting group of people, including not only the GCSB but also the Department of Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), the National Assessments Bureau (NAB), the Combined Threat Assessment Group (CTAG) and the Security and Risk Group (SRG). CTAG includes representatives from the Police, the GCSB, the Security Intelligence Service (SIS), the New Zealand Defence Force, Maritime New Zealand and the New Zealand Customs Service.

Action: Thursday (08/08/13) approximately 3pm, Parliament.

The Bill will probably be having its third and final reading. Attend Parliament, go to the Public Gallery - be a witness.

And of course: contact MPs (National, John Banks and Peter Dunne) and urge them not to vote for the Bill.

Nothing to hide - everything to fear

Public meeting: Looking at surveillance beyond the GCSB Bill

Nothing to Hide ... Everything to Fear is the title of a public meeting being hosted by OASIS. The GCSB Bill is just one of the latest in a line of law changes that are expanding and normalising state surveillance.

In recent years there have been many legal changes attacking our rights in the name of security, these include the Terrorism Suppression Act, Maritime Security Act, Border Security, Aviation Security Act, Telecommunications Interception Capability Act, the SIS Act, the Police Act, the Search and Surveillance Act and now back to round two of the GCSB Act and the Telecommunications Interception Capability Act.

All these laws bring in more surveillance and in NZ that is primarily the role of the police, the SIS and the GCSB. Over the years every one of these state agencies has acted outside of their briefs. Every time their illegal activities become public knowledge, there are changes in the law to legalise their activities and / or to expand their powers. What is happening with the GCSB Bill is a case in point.

It is time to say enough is enough – for one of the greatest threats to our security is actually ever-increasing invasion of our privacy. Surveillance is the threat.

Speakers

• Helen Kelly (CTU)
• Thomas Beagle (Tech Liberty)
• Kate Dewes (Peace Campaigner)

Monday, 5 August, 6pm
St John’s Hall,  Willis St/Dixon St