Today is the last day for submissions... this was mine sent off a few minutes ago: Dear Select Committee My concern over this bill and the subject of surveillance in general is one of control and the use of fear in order to control by the State. This bill has apparent flaws in that it does not include a comprehensive recourse for an individual or group that feels it has been incorrectly targeted by the SIS (or other intelligence services). Such recourse should be made easily available at no or low cost to the targeted person or group. It should involve the right to respond to secret allegations (witness the former East German Stasi dossier system that allowed for Orwellian-style informants and surveillance and a police state built on fear where even closest relatives informed on one another). The other concern is the idea of harming the country economically being a threat to security--does this include promoting organic farming, limiting overseas fishing rights and protesting against overseas oil and mining companies, or maybe disbanding Pharmac? Activists have been targets of surveillance on many occasions in the past and including such a far-reaching criterion could encompass several valid protest groups and protesters against the excesses of big business and big government. Once again, a right to recourse and the ability to learn exactly the reasons for the surveillance (and other measures taken by the State) in order to counter, dispel or allay the fears of the State. And lastly, misuse of data gained by surveillance (electronic and otherwise) should come with heavier penalties and found guilty, instant dismissal and heavy fines should ensue at a minimum. The State should publicly apologise with suitable compensation for loss of privacy and other damages. If we live in a democracy, then the citizen has the right to challenge the State and a right to protest. Injustice, real or imagined, lies behind many social upheavals and riots (Ferguson, Missouri). Therefore any power given to the State security forces must have an equal counter-balance that returns some power back to the individual if they feel wronged by injustice. Hence this submission and the request that the select committee considers that this proposed legislation is fair and just in this country which enjoys relative peace, and the only terrorist act committed on these shores in recent times having been committed by a foreign power against an ecological protest group, claiming the life of one of its members. parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/sc/make-submission/51SCFDT_SCF_00DBHOH_BILL60721_1/countering-terrorist-fighters-legislation-bill
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 03:26:42 +0000
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