Gallagher Martin: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Gallagher Martin: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:608;Page:5683] 
2.  
MARTIN GALLAGHER (NZ Labour—Hamilton West) 
 to the  
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade 
: What steps has the Government taken to protect New Zealanders in countries like Saudi Arabia against the threat of terrorist attack? 
Hon PHIL GOFF (Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade) 
: 
 Can I first express on behalf of New Zealanders our condemnation of last night’s terrorist attack and our condolences to the families of at least 29 people who were killed and as many as 194 injured. Our embassy in Saudi Arabia established a register of New Zealanders living in Riyadh following the deterioration in security conditions earlier this year. It used that register 10 days ago to advise 450 New Zealanders registered of US intelligence information about the risk of an imminent attack by terrorists. That register is also being used to determine whether New Zealanders were living in the compounds that were attacked last night and to confirm that the two individuals and one family of New Zealanders resident in the Alhambra compound were in fact not casualties. 
Martin Gallagher 
: Is the Minister satisfied with the level of protection offered to New Zealand diplomatic staff based in Riyadh? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: Perhaps fortuitously I announced on Sunday a budgetary provision that includes $3.5 million to improve security at those of our embassies that might be considered as being at risk. That does include Riyadh. Additional security being put in place includes the reinforcing of a double perimeter fence closed-circuit television additional guards and enhanced facilities for screening those entering the embassy compound and mail being received by it. 
Dr Wayne Mapp 
: Why would New Zealanders believe now that New Zealand receives full intelligence from the United States given the Prime Minister’s recent foolish comments about the United States and in the light of the fact that New Zealand clearly did not receive all the available intelligence that Australia received following the Bali bombing? This is a crucial issue that the Minister must address. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The last part is not part of the question as it was an extra piece. 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: Perhaps because the warning given to New Zealanders in Riyadh was identical to that given by the United States to its residents. 
Keith Locke 
: How does it help protect New Zealanders in countries like Saudi Arabia from terrorist attack for our Navy to issue a press statement as it did yesterday praising “coalition forces taking military action to liberate Iraq and secure weapons of mass destruction” and for us to have our frigate  
Te Kaha 
 and now an Orion conducting operations in the Gulf under overall US command? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: I would have thought it was obvious to almost every member in this House that the reason we have the frigate in the Gulf the reason our P3 surveillance aircraft went up there last week and the reason our CI30 military aircraft will be going up there in a couple of weeks’ time is that we need to assist the international efforts against that form of terrorism which endangers every civilian everywhere regardless of race colour or creed. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: When the Minister spoke of a $3.5 million allocation to upgrade security in embassies deemed to be at risk was that risk determined on the basis of generalised intelligence briefings or have there been specific threats issued against New Zealand embassies from time to time? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: The answer is the former. There have been no specific threats in recent times issued against New Zealand embassies but there is a generalised threat. The at-risk embassies are obviously those embassies in countries that have had a tradition of bombing against Westerners and diplomatic posts.