1. DAVID SHEARER (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements in relation to Kim Dotcom and the inquiry into the actions of the Government Communications Security Bureau?

Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) : I refer the member to the personal explanation I have just given to the House. At the time I was responding to the questions I believed the answers to be correct. However, evidence has since come to light that suggests that the answers I gave to the House in one specific area may well have been incorrect. I had no intention to mislead the House and I corrected these answers at the first opportunity.

David Shearer: On what date did the Government Communications Security Bureau first become aware that its surveillance of Kim Dotcom was illegal?

Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The first day that I was briefed by the Government Communications Security Bureau about it being illegal was likely to be the 17th.

David Shearer: Point of order—

Mr SPEAKER: I think I can predict the Leader of the Opposition’s point of order. The member actually asked on what date the Government Communications Security Bureau became aware that its investigation may have been illegal, not the date on which the Prime Minister was advised of that.

Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I do not have that date to hand.

David Shearer: Further to his answers on 26 September, when he said he was unsure about the involvement of the SIS or the other staff from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in the Dotcom case, can he now confirm what involvement those staff had?

Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I cannot confirm all the involvements. I can confirm that the SIS played a minor vetting role, as it always does when people make applications. I can also confirm that when the SIS and the Government Communications Security Bureau say things, they do not just make it up—like some members do.

David Shearer: Mr Speaker—[Interruption]

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I want to hear the Leader of the Opposition’s question.

David Shearer: In light of his answer to written question No. 8353, where he confirmed that he discussed the Government Communications Security Bureau’s illegal surveillance of Dotcom with the Attorney-General but was unable to recall which other two Ministers he raised the issue with, can he now recall and tell the House who those other Ministers were?

Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No.

David Shearer: Why did his Acting Prime Minister sign a ministerial certificate to suppress and cover up the Government Communications Security Bureau’s illegal activity?

Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Firstly, he was not covering something up. What actually happened was that the Government Communications Security Bureau wanted to have its name not in the public domain, because it believed legally it had acted legally. It also had the paperwork to support that. I have seen that paperwork, and the paperwork made it quite clear it believed its activities to be legal.

Michael Woodhouse: What is his response to the serious allegations made by David Shearer that “there wasn’t a video simply because they’ve taken the hard drives and wiped it”?

Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I believe that those allegations against the Government Communications Security Bureau are extremely serious and reflect on the integrity of the organisation and its staff. I have been advised by the director that there was no video—that there was never a video—and that nothing has been deleted from the Government Communications Security Bureau’s system. So, quite frankly, Mr Shearer should put up or shut up. In fact, he should apologise for his unsubstantiated—

Mr SPEAKER: Order!

David Shearer: Mr Speaker—[Interruption]

Mr SPEAKER: Order! Order! I know the issue is a tense issue, but I want to hear the question from the Leader of the Opposition.

David Shearer: Which of the following statements does he stand by in his answers about knowledge of the Government Communications Security Bureau’s involvement in the Kim Dotcom case: “No, I don’t think so.”, “No, I don’t remember.”, “Look, I don’t know. Um, you know, who knows?”, “I’m not in a position to answer that.”, and “I don’t remember cracking a joke about that one, because I crack jokes all the time.”?

Rt Hon JOHN KEY: In the course of my job I answer questions on a daily basis, at length, to the media. If I am in a position to give the correct answer, I do. If I am not, I simply make sure that I get the correct information. David Shearer went on to Campbell Live and said there was a video, and it had been taken. Then he told David Fisher at the New Zealand Herald: “Well, no, it’s been wiped, because they’ve taken the hard drive.” Then he told Firstline it had been erased. Now he says it is not about the video. Apparently, it is not about the video.

David Shearer: Has he received any information about other potential illegal or unlawful acts by other New Zealand Government agencies or a foreign Government agency in the Kim Dotcom case?

Rt Hon JOHN KEY: As the agency pointed out when the review was taking place, there are three other cases that took place between 2009 and 2012.

David Shearer: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. That was a specific question about other agencies, not about the Government Communications Security Bureau.

Mr SPEAKER: I think it was not unreasonable that the question was misunderstood. I invite the member to repeat his question.

David Shearer: Has he received any information about other potential illegal or unlawful acts by other New Zealand Government agencies or a foreign Government agency in the Dotcom case?

Rt Hon JOHN KEY: To the best of my knowledge, no.

Jacinda Ardern: Supplementary question to the Prime Minister—[Interruption]

Mr SPEAKER: Order! I want to hear this question.

Jacinda Ardern: Did the Government Communications Security Bureau report to him on the introduction of kiosks into Work and Income offices; if not, why not, given that under the law it is required to give advice on the security and protection of information held by the Government?

Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No. I give the member full credit for auditioning for the new job as Leader of the Opposition, because apparently the way—

Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] No, order! Question No. 2, Metiria Turei. [Interruption] Order! Unlike the aforementioned gentlemen, the Prime Minister did sit down when I got to my feet.