In the blue corner
Our Security Intelligence Service and Government Communications Security Bureau do great work keeping New Zealanders safe from foreign and domestic threats.
The Government of the day gets full disclosure of the threats and risks from our intelligence services and that is the way it should be. While the leader of the Opposition is briefed, most members of Parliament, including Government members and the public are not privy to that information or actions to keep New Zealand safe and to preserve our democracy.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Attack on the Christchurch Mosques found several recommendations where police and intelligence units could collaborate more effectively and, fortunately, for the most part they have been adopted.
However, we must be continually on our guard to preserve our freedom in an increasingly unstable world. Recently the
Australian Government started removing a brand of Chinese-made surveillance cameras from all Government sites.
The Australians are concerned that the cameras might be used for spying as Chinese national security laws can require Chinese firms to hand over data to Beijing’s central intelligence agency.
It was then revealed that numerous cameras from the same brand were operating across New Zealand’s Government departments. Cameras were operating in police facilities and even an MP’s home.
We have to ask how this was allowed to happen in the first place, given the risk of Chinese equipment being used for such nefarious activities is well known.
We also need to follow our defence partners and look at what actions they are taking to minimise such risks. If we have these cameras in sensitive areas, then we should remove them immediately to avoid any unwanted consequences.
National security is constantly evolving and although we are a small nation we must take national security seriously and that includes protecting our businesses from industrial espionage.
There are also dangerous groups that seek to divide us, such as some of the violent protesters that attacked Posie Parker recently.
Freedom comes at a cost, and we must stand up for ourselves whether that be a foreign power spying on us, or a violent group seeking to silence those they do not agree with.