The SIS Amendment Bill

The PM has introduced an SIS Amendment Bill to the House. I’ll turn to the substance in a second, but first a matter of process. Some of the usual idiots are complaining that any submissions on the bill will be heard in private.

It is actually against the law to hear the submissions publicly – unless there s unanimous consent by members of the committee. I quote s12(2) of the Intelligence and Security Committee Act 1996:

The proceedings of the Committee shall be held in private unless the Committee by unanimous resolution resolves otherwise.

The substance of the changes are:

• clarify that the warrant framework does cover the use of electronic tracking devices:
• provide a clear framework for facilities to be the subject of surveillance (such as telephone numbers or IP addresses).
• authorities provided to the NZSIS also require clarification in the area of computer-based
• clarify protections in the Act for persons acting in accordance with a warrant:

They have also published a regulatory impact statement.