Shearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeShearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 16 April 2013. Volume:689;Page:9341. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]1.DAVID SHEARER (Leader of the Opposition) to thePrime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): Yes.David Shearer: Why did the Prime Minister state six times in his press conference on 24 September that he did not know of any other unlawful action or errors made in relation to legally questionable spying on New Zealanders when in fact he had been informed about that in July earlier?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: It was because I believed that to be correct.David Shearer: Why did he ask only to be informed at that time when he said today on Radio New Zealand that when the illegal spying was flagged by the Government Communications Security Bureau director in July he indicated to him how serious the situation was?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: It was because I believed that to be the prudent course of action.David Shearer: Why did he not instruct the Government Communications Security Bureau to suspend all legally questionable spying on New Zealanders as soon as he became aware of the serious problem in July?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The very unresolved nature of the matter I believe did not warrant that action.David Shearer: Given that it was unresolved did he not think that it was a more prudent course of action to stop any illegal spying on New Zealanders?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Not at that time because that was not established and it has not been established actually at this point.Louise Upston: Can the Prime Minister outline to the House the increasing threat that the National Cyber Security Centre has reported on?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Actually I can—I can. The National Cyber Security Centre reported in 2011 that it had 90 instances lodged with it. These constitute serious instances that do damage or compromise the target or company involved. In 2012 that number increased from 90 to 134. I can inform the House today that for this calendaryear the number already stands at 79 and we are not even at Anzac Day. We have already passed half of last year’s total of serious cyber instances. These attacks are steeply rising and putting at risk our Government and private sector security. The Government Communications Security Bureau has a vital role to play in combating this and that is why it is crucial the legislation that I proposed yesterday is passed by this House in good time.David Shearer: Why did he stop illegal spying in September when he did not feel it was possible to stop it in July? What happened in between?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I think it is technically correct to say that I did not stop it in September. Actually the director-general did and he advised me.Louise Upston: What steps has the National-led Government taken to strengthen New Zealand’s response to an increasing cyberthreat?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: This Government has taken a number of steps in relation to an increasing cyberthreat including creating the National Cyber Security Centre within the Government Communications Security Bureau. The centre has publicly reported on the number of serious cyber instances and it plays an important role in interacting with industry across Government and internationally to protect our infrastructure and systems. We have also created the National Cyber Policy Office within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet which leads the development of cybersecurity policy advice for Government. It also provides advice on investing Government resources in cybersecurity activities. We are taking the cyberthreat very seriously as are other Governments around the world. The reporting of instances here is still relatively new so it is highly likely there is a lot more to come in this area.David Shearer: Why has the amendment to the Security Intelligence Service legislation suddenly been shelved and will he make public the draft legislation so that we can see what changes have been planned for the Security Intelligence Service?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: In answer to the last part of the question no.Louise Upston: Can the Prime Minister outline for the House the legislative proposals for significantly strengthening the oversight of our intelligence services?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Yes. The Government is proposing to significantly strengthen the oversight of our intelligence agencies and this is a very important step in rebuilding public confidence following the Kitteridge report. Among the changes we intend to make are the following: removing the requirement that the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security be a retired High Court judge. This will increase the pool of people who can do the job. Second we will make the inspector-general’s office more proactive by increasing the requirements on the office and moving it a step forward from the existing review-focused work. Third we will increase the resourcing and staffing of the inspector-general’s office including creating a new role of deputy inspector-general. Fourth legislation will explicitly expand the inspector-general’s programme and the office’s work will become more transparent. There are more changes but in the interests of time I will stop here with what are very important and significant proposals for change.David Shearer: In relation to the unanswered part of my last question why has the amendment to the Security Intelligence Service legislation been shelved?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Because in my view the primary focus of attention should be on the changes to the Government Communications Security Bureau law and the increase in oversight.David Shearer: In light of his answer and the lack of confidence that people have in the intelligence agencies why will the Prime Minister not agree to a full independent inquiry to restore that confidence in our intelligence agencies?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Because I do not believe it is necessary.