King Annette: Ministerial Statements — Islamic State Conflict—Government ResponseText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeKing Annette: Ministerial Statements — Islamic State Conflict—Government Response[Sitting date: 05 November 2014. Volume:701;Page:611. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon ANNETTE KING (Acting Deputy Leader—Labour):First of all I would like to thank the Prime Minister for the opportunity for the House to respond to his ministerial statement. It is at times like this that Parliament can be at its best. It is a time when politicians can show New Zealanders that reasoned and constructive debate is possible on issues of national and international importance.The speech given by the Prime Minister this morning and the statement we have just heard in the House today regarding his Government’s legislative response aid and diplomatic efforts to combat the atrocities occurring in Iraq and Syria by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) warrant our serious consideration and full debate. Security at home and protection of New Zealand citizens must always be a top priority for any Government—security on our streets security in our homes in our workplaces in our schools and so on. New Zealanders expect Governments to take necessary measures to protect them and their families from preventable danger within the bounds of reason and within our obligations under international and domestic law—human rights law international refugee law and international humanitarian law.New Zealand does have a proud record in upholding fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. We have as a country managed to balance the need for security and respect for human rights. At times it can be difficult to have that balance. Hindsight is often used to look at the decisions made after the event. Today people are expecting Parliament to get the balance right—to arrive at a response to the growing unrest and violence by ISIS in a calm and proportionate way.The legislation that has been outlined by the Prime Minister today seeks to extend the powers of the SIS to investigate and monitor people who may be a threat to our security. Our role as the Opposition is to question the balance and to be vigilant in terms of the legislation on behalf of New Zealanders. The provisions in the legislation are to be parallel to those currently available to the police under the Search and Surveillance Act which would enable visual surveillance in private places. The powers of the SIS are also to be extended to authorise surveillance activities to be undertaken in an emergency situation without warrant for the duration of no more than 48 hours.There must be safeguards Prime Minister to prevent abuse and appropriate warrants should be issued as quickly as possible in these very rare circumstances. We would not want to see the 48 hours become the minimum or the standard operating procedure which we have actually seen from the Government in terms of Official Information Act requests waiting until the legal time is up before releasing information. So we are saying: “Do not let the 48 hours become the norm.” If it can be done faster it ought to be done faster. If the Prime Minister is not available within 48 hours to approve the warrant then there should be an alternative available.We will examine the provisions very carefully at the select committee to ensure safeguards are in place to minimise potential abuse of the extended power. We will also require that when reporting on the number of warrants issued under this provision the Prime Minister report on how long it took before approval was given. I think that will give us a pretty good idea of how fast warrants like this can be regularised. The legislation also provides powers to disrupt and restrict travel by those seeking to fight alongside designated terrorist groups. The right to free travel by New Zealanders is a precious one and we are keen international travellers. But clearly there are grounds where restrictions can be justified. A person intent on engaging in terrorist acts or seeking to join with organisations that are committing crimes against humanity are such grounds.The United Nations Security Council in Resolution 2178 on 24 September this year expressed grave concern about the acute and growing threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters those who attempt to travel to become foreign terrorist fighters and the recruitment of foreign terrorist fighters. As a member of the United Nations Security Council and as good international members New Zealand needs to heed those grave concerns and put in place appropriate measures. However the cancellation of a passport while a New Zealander is overseas cannot be undertaken lightly. It will be important that any New Zealand citizen when this happens is issued with travel documents so that they can return to New Zealand immediately. It would not make sense to render a person stateless and increase their potential to re-engage with a terrorist group.Labour broadly supports the provisions as outlined today and we believe that they appear to be justified to ensure safety at home as well as meeting our international obligations. As I said our role ought to be vigilant to closely examine the bill at the select committee and to ensure the measures are workable are necessary and are framed appropriately. We are glad that it is going to the select committee to enable New Zealanders to have a say. I thought at one stage that there was some doubt that that might happen but I am pleased that it is going to a select committee even if the process is truncated. The Australians managed to send their legislation to the Senate and to the Lower House.After what has felt like decisions made on the drip-feed—a snippet here a clue there and a hint dropped over there—we are finally seeing the Government’s contribution to the conflict caused by ISIS. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has announced humanitarian support for refugees from Syria and Iraq and has ramped up diplomatic efforts to address the rise of ISIS. We support such measures. It is clear to us that New Zealanders support an approach like this rather than front-line troops or even SAS troops fighting on the front line.If Prime Minister the next step by the Government is to involve New Zealanders in some sort of military involvement we think it is also clear that the majority of New Zealanders would like such a decision to be backed by the United Nations. We urge the Government to use the mandate it now has as a member of the Security Council to speak up on behalf of a mandated approach to those countries to use the influence that we have over the next 2 years.Bill English was the leader of the National Party in 2003 when Labour decided not to go into the war in Iraq. At that time he said he wanted openness and honesty. That is what he got then and that is what this Parliament is asking for now. Nobody wants to see the spread of war or the atrocities that have been perpetrated on innocent people not least the people who live in those countries or the families who are in New Zealand. Christopher Finlayson and I recently met with some of those families who are so fearful for what is happening to their families in those countries. What we can do in terms of helping refugees fleeing from those countries is to back and support them.Can I conclude by saying that I have always liked the quotes of Mahatma Gandhi and this is one I think is appropriate today. He said: “An eye for an eye makes the world blind.” Thank you.