Call to slow down passage of Bill

WELLINGTON: Rushed counterterrorism laws could risk stigmatising refugees, which would only reinforce the false justifications of the New Lynn terrorist, the Greens and Act New Zealand say.

The topic has made for unlikely political bedfellows, with the two smaller parties opposing a government move, which National supports.

It follows the terror attack at a supermarket at LynnMall in the Auckland suburb of New Lynn on Friday, which left seven people injured.

In a ministerial statement to Parliament yesterday afternoon, Minister Responsible for the GCSB and NZSIS Andrew Little said New Zealand must learn from the attack to keep the community safe.

‘‘It is time for a more mature national discussion about national security than we have had in the past and now as legislators and as a country we must move forward and do what we can to ensure it never happens again.’’

He drew attention to the Government’s upcoming changes to counterterrorism legislation.

‘‘All agencies were doing all that could be done to protect New Zealanders and ultimately we were frustrated by the law dealing with terrorist activity as it currently stands,’’ Mr Little said.

The Government had spent years trying to deport the terrorist, who was shot dead by undercover police surveilling him.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has promised to fasttrack the CounterTerrorism Legislation Bill but said yesterday the consultation process had not been shortened, rather it was the progression through Parliament which had been shortened.

National has been supportive of the Government’s moves and leader Judith Collins told the House yesterday it was important for the Opposition not to battle the Government on every single issue, given the protests National had to deal with in search and surveillance and GCSB law changes.

‘‘We’re not going to echo those mistakes, because ultimately governments do need to be able to put in place legislation that is going to be fit for another government and successive governments to deal with,’’ she said.

Green Party coleader James Shaw expressed sympathy for the victims of the attack in his speech, but warned against advancing the Bill under urgency.

‘‘Rushed legislation in response to events runs the risk of increasing harm to innocent people, particularly Maori, migrants, and refugees.’’

Act leader David Seymour called for caution and also opposed rushing the laws through under urgency.

‘‘If anything, the rushing should have been done earlier.’’

Ms Collins and Mr Seymour also asked the Government further questions on the Government’s fouryear battle to deport the attacker.

‘‘If a refugee or an immigrant commits an act of terror or goes overseas to take part in extremist activities we should rip up their New Zealand passport.

‘‘The Immigration Act 2009 does provide for this with some restrictions,’’ Ms Collins said.

She asked whether this option was explored.

Mr Little said he was not aware what specific advice was given but said deportation was ‘‘actively’’ considered.

Mr Little stated the Government had sought to deport the attacker, but he was entitled to appeal that decision, and had. — RNZ