Dunne-Peters face off over GCSB leak
United Future leader Peter Dunne says he did not leak the Rebecca Kitteridge report into the Government Communications Security Bureau.
United Future leader Peter Dunne says he did not leak the Rebecca Kitteridge report into the Government Communications Security Bureau.
Under attack at a stormy select committee hearing this morning from New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, the revenue minister said he respected the rules around cabinet secrecy and had kept the report “under lock and key”.
The report was leaked to the Dominion Post newspaper before it was released and the source of that leak has been the subject of much speculation.
Mr Peters used a hearing on the Inland Revenue estimates today to launch in to Mr Dunne.
Several government MPs tried to stop the line of questioning by pointing out the issue had nothing to do with the IRD’s spending for the coming financial year.
Mr Peters linked it to the IRD by noting Mr Dunne had often, as revenue minister, refused to release information on the grounds of its confidentiality.
Mr Dunne pointed out there are clear and strict laws about privacy in the Tax Administration Act and other tax related legislation.
Mr Peters then asked about whether Mr Dunne was so strict in his interpretation of other secrecy rules – specifically those relating to such reports as the one into the GCSB.
Committee chairman Todd McLay ruled this out as “drawing a very long bow” and told Mr Peters he had to draw any questions back to the IRD estimates.
“I just did”, was Mr Peters' response. “If I can’t ask this question here, where can I ask it?”
“In the House,” National MP Paul Goldsmith told him.
Mr Peters also asked if Mr Dunne had co-operated with the inquiry into the leak, and whether Mr Dunne’s denial of making the leak was made under oath.
“I am not on trial by this committee”, was his response.
Outside the committee, Mr Dunne repeated his statement he had not leaked the report.
Rob Hosking
Wed, 29 May 2013
Wed, 29 May 2013
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Dunne-Peters face off over GCSB leak
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