Firstly.
The SIS released information to John Key’s office. The information was inaccurate and maybe it should never have been given to the PM’s Office. That can be put down to mendacity or incompetence, but relates only to the SIS and how it operates.
Secondly.
John Key’s office passed the basic gist of information they’d received from the SIS onto Cameron Slater, and allegedly instructed him on how best to word OIA requests that would back up what they (the PM’s Office) were already telling him. Cameron Slater published blog posts, embarrassing to Phil Goff, off the back of that information.
Thirdly.
Judith Collins was stood down from cabinet on the back of mere hear-say contained in an email from Cameron Slater to Jason Ede. This was only ever going to be a distraction from ‘Dirty Politics’, and an attempt to salvage the character and good standing of Judith Collin’s (and the National Party). Just about every-one took their eye off the ball – the allegations contained in Nicky Hager’s book – at the time she was stood down.
The only matter that should be concerning anyone in all of this is whether the PM’s office used information it had received from the SIS to undermine and smear the then Leader of the Opposition.
The accuracy and what not of the information from the SIS, and the systems of accountability or judgement in reference to the SIS, important though they may be, are secondary to the principle matter of a Prime Minister using information received from the SIS for party political gain.
Meanwhile, Judith Collin’s and her alleged desire to undermine Feeley, are entirely separate and irrelevant to a Prime Minister using information received from the SIS for party political gain.
So. Did the Prime Minister of New Zealand mis-use information, received from the New Zealand Security Intelligence Services, for party political gain? Any other questions? Not from me.
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