Spies Lies and Alibis

So it would appear that Prime Minister at his briefing on the illegal use of the GCSB in the Dotcom affair, saga, shambles, FBI operation was recorded on audio or video…and that he actually asked questions about Dotcom months before he said that he first heard about the chubby German multi-millionaire. It certainly appears that this shambles is starting to affect Nationals poll ratings.

In the world of counselling there is a code word used to describe the stages that people go through to handle problems. DABDA it represents denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. John Key is moving through those stages right now. Firstly he denied any knowledge; he showed his clear anger in parliament during question time. Then he went into bargaining mode when he pleaded that maybe he had forgotten, his anger has now turned to depression he avoids media questions like those posed by John Campbell on TV’s 3 Campbell Live. Acceptance of his failure firstly to get on top of job and secondly to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth is next.

The question now is did spies catch Key on tape talking about Dotcom? The New Zealand Labour Party and David Shearer appear to have information that he did. Key has reverted for the moment into denial mode yet again.

The Labour Leader on 11 October 2012 issued this Media Statement:

“Labour is calling on the Prime Minister and the Government Communications Security Bureau to confirm whether an audio-visual recording exists of John Key addressing staff at the agency during a visit on February 29th.

“Labour understands such a recording may exist and that it may show John Key referring to Kim Dotcom when speaking to staff.

“There is one way to clear this up. The Prime Minister should give the green light to the agency to release any and all unclassified material about the visit and John Key’s comments to staff.

“It was during the visit on February 29 that the Prime Minister was briefed by GCSB about their surveillance of Kim Dotcom. He claims to have no memory of that. Previously though, he had told New Zealanders that he did not know about the surveillance till September 17.

“The agency’s review of its handling of the Dotcom case says that ‘no written record was kept of the meeting’. But it is silent on whether any audio-visual record exists of the Prime Minister’s visit.

“What New Zealanders need to know is what happened on that day when he visited GCSB, whether the Prime Minister’s comments were caught on tape and whether he mentioned Kim Dotcom to staff.

“It’s time for the full facts to be put on the table. This goes to the heart of John Key’s credibility and whether he’s telling the truth to New Zealanders.

“I’m calling on GCSB to confirm whether that audio-visual material still exists. If it simply shows John Key addressing staff then it should be publicly released because it is unlikely to contain classified information.

“At the very least, the material must be handed over to the relevant authorities who are looking into the case. I have also today made a request to the GCSB under the Official Information Act for any such material.

“There is now no alternative but to have a full, independent inquiry. A series of in-house investigations won’t cut it. There are too many unanswered questions. That is damaging our reputation for open and honest government and New Zealanders’ confidence in our intelligence agencies,” said David Shearer.

Winston Peters has also made comment about the issue of Dotcom:

On the 9^th October 2012 the New Zealand First Party Leader issued this;

PM’s Office Was Aware of Dotcom in July Last Year

The Prime Minister’s office knew about Kim Dotcom’s application to buy his Helensville-mansion in July 2011 according to evidence unearthed by New Zealand First.

The Prime Minister confirmed in reply to a written question from New Zealand First that his office knew about Dotcom in July last year.

“In July 2011 one of my staff was advised by Hon Simon Power's office by phone that Hon Simon Power was declining an OIO [Overseas Investment Office] application from Kim Dotcom.

“This information was not conveyed to me as it was routine,” Mr Key said in his written reply.

Rt Hon Winston Peters says the continual emergence of new evidence suggests the Prime Minister knew of Dotcom much earlier than January 19, 2012 – the date Mr Key claims he first became aware of his existence.

“How long can the Prime Minister continue to deny that he knew of Kim Dotcom before January 19 this year?

“His senior ministers knew of Dotcom, his Helensville electorate office knew of Dotcom, and now it emerges that the Prime Minister’s office also knew of Dotcom.”

Mr Peters says it is hard to fathom how Mr Key can claim that he didn’t need to know about Dotcom’s application to buy a mansion in his own Helensville electorate because it was “routine”.

“Routine is about the last word you’d use when it comes to describing anything to do with Dotcom. Love him or hate him, he is a larger than life figure.

“And why would Mr Power relay the information to the Prime Minister’s office if it wasn’t for the consumption of the Prime Minister?

“Mr Key’s involvement in the whole fiasco stinks like a sweaty Hobbit’s armpit in summer,” says Mr Peters

 Is this affecting Nationals standing in the polls…it would appear so

NATIONAL (41.5%) LEAD OVER LABOUR (33.5%)
LABOUR/GREENS/ NZ FIRST WOULD WIN AN ELECTION HELD NOW

This latest New Zealand Roy Morgan Poll on voting intention was conducted by telephone with a NZ wide cross-section of 827 electors from September 24 – October 7, 2012. Of all electors surveyed 4% (down 0.5%) didn’t name a party.: October 10, 2012

Today’s New Zealand Roy Morgan Poll shows a fall in support for Prime Minister John Key’s National Party to 41.5% (down 2% since September 10-23, 2012) — this is the lowest support for National since John Key won Government at the 2008 New Zealand Election. Support for Key’s Coalition partners has changed with the Maori Party 1.5% (down 1%), ACT NZ 0.5% (unchanged) and United Future 0.5% (up 0.5%).

Support for Labour is 33.5% (up 0.5%); Greens are 13.5% (up 2%), New Zealand First 6.5% (up 1.5%),

If a National Election were held today this New Zealand Roy Morgan Poll says a combined opposition of Labour/ Greens & New Zealand First would be favoured to form a new Government.

The latest New Zealand Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating is down 4pts to 106 with 44% (down 3.5%) of New Zealanders saying New Zealand is ‘heading in the right direction’ compared to 38% (up 0.5%) that say New Zealand is ‘heading in the wrong direction’.

“Today’s New Zealand Roy Morgan Poll shows Prime Minister John Key’s National (41.5%, down 2%) falling further behind a combined Opposition of Labour (33.5%, up 0.5%); Greens (13.5%, up 2%) and New Zealand First (6.5%, up 1.5%); A total of 53.5% (up 4%).

“This is the highest share of the vote held by these three Opposition parties for six years since October 2-15, 2006 (53.5%) when Labour was in Government in coalition with NZ First.

“Also concerning for Key will be second straight fall in the Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating — now at 106 (down 4pts) — and at its lowest since Key’s election in November 2008 with only 44% (down 3.5%) of New Zealanders saying New Zealand is ‘heading in the right direction’.”

Electors were asked: “If a New Zealand Election were held today which party would receive your party vote?”

This latest New Zealand Roy Morgan Poll on voting intention was conducted by telephone with a NZ wide cross-section of 827 electors from September 24 — October 7, 2012. Of all electors surveyed 4% (down 0.5%) didn’t name a party.