Outcome: Civil Aviation Bill
Despite not mentioning our concerns, the Committee has substantially amended clause 456 to address the concern which we, and others, raised. Keep reading “Outcome: Civil Aviation Bill”
Media release: Disappointment at Select Committee’s refusal to fix the Data and Statistics Bill
The deeply flawed Data and Statistics Bill has passed through the Governance and Administration Select Committee largely unchanged. The Committee has fallen in line with the advice of Stats NZ and ignored the significant concerns raised by, amongst others, the Ombudsman, a former Government Statistician, and the NZ Council for Civil Liberties. Keep reading “Media release: Disappointment at Select Committee’s refusal to fix the Data and Statistics Bill”
Media release: Privacy Commissioner joins Ombudsman and former Government Statistician in criticising the Data and Statistics Bill
The NZ Council for Civil Liberties is pleased that the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) has reacted to public pressure and made a late submission highlighting problems with the Data and Statistics Bill. In doing so, the Privacy Commissioner joins the Ombudsman, and the former Government Statistician Len Cook, in highlighting serious flaws in the Bill. NZCCL and Mr Cook have both called for the entire Bill to be withdrawn, and the Ombudsman has called for part 5 of the Bill to be scrapped. Keep reading “Media release: Privacy Commissioner joins Ombudsman and former Government Statistician in criticising the Data and Statistics Bill”
Submission (oral): Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System and Children and Young People’s Commission Bill
As well as our written submission we also made an oral submission to the Select Committee. Here’s the edited version … Keep reading “Submission (oral): Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System and Children and Young People’s Commission Bill”
Supplementary Submission: Data and Statistics Bill
Our oral submission asked some important questions including "Where is the Privacy Impact Assessment?" and "Why is Statistics talking about the NZ govt 'warming up the public gradually' to further data sharing?" . The Committee asked us to put these points in a supplementary written submission. Keep reading “Supplementary Submission: Data and Statistics Bill”
What’s wrong with the Data & Statistics Bill?
Why does Aotearoa New Zealand want to replace our Statistics Act with a new law that greatly extends the power of the Government Statistician to collect, aggregate, and share data, all the while reducing oversight and ignoring any possible downsides? Keep reading “What’s wrong with the Data & Statistics Bill?”
Guest post: Data & Statistics Bill should be withdrawn
Guest writer Stephen Judd argues that the new Data and Statistics Bill is a data "land grab", trading off New Zealander's privacy and safety in order to make life easier for officials and researchers Keep reading “Guest post: Data & Statistics Bill should be withdrawn”
Open Government – Briefing to Minister Hipkins, part two: Proactive Disclosure
Part two of a briefing to the Minister for Public Services, who is responsible for the country's membership of the Open Government Partnership. This part deals with the opportunity to strengthen proactive publication. Keep reading “Open Government – Briefing to Minister Hipkins, part two: Proactive Disclosure”
Open Government – Briefing to Minister Hipkins, part one: Secrecy Clauses
Part one of a briefing to the Minister for Public Services, who is responsible for the country's membership of the Open Government Partnership. This part deals with the problem of secrecy clauses in legislation. Keep reading “Open Government – Briefing to Minister Hipkins, part one: Secrecy Clauses”
Submission: Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System and Children and Young People’s Commission Bill
The Council calls for the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System and Children and Young People's Commission Bill to be withdrawn. The Council doubts the effectiveness of the bill's core measures and opposes restrictions on freedom of information, freedom of expression, and our right to justice. Keep reading “Submission: Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System and Children and Young People’s Commission Bill”
Submission: Data & Statistics Bill
The Council opposes the Data and Statistics Bill, which gives more power to the state, and takes it from the public. The bill increases government collection, use and sharing amongst itself of information about us, while weakening our rights both to privacy and to access information held by government agencies. Keep reading “Submission: Data & Statistics Bill”
Submission: Three Strikes Legislation Repeal Bill
The Council supports the Three Strikes Legislation Repeal Bill, subject to amendments enabling re-sentencing and compensation for prisoners found to have been detained for an unjust duration. Keep reading “Submission: Three Strikes Legislation Repeal Bill”
Submission: Civil Aviation Bill
The Council opposes the secrecy provisions in the Bill, clauses 199 and 456, as unjustifiable limitations of our right to information and our freedom to impart that information to others, and recommends they be removed from the Bill. Keep reading “Submission: Civil Aviation Bill”
Submission: Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill
The Council's submission on the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill recommends changes to improve accountability and to protect accessibility. Keep reading “Submission: Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill”
Media release: Disgraceful government secrecy on vaccination certificates as legislation rushed through
On the eve of legislation to enable vaccination passes being rushed through Parliament under urgency, the Minister has said it … Keep reading “Media release: Disgraceful government secrecy on vaccination certificates as legislation rushed through”
Our Feedback on Algorithm Governance
There has been no progress worth noting towards objective 8, Review of government algorithms. From the lack of visible results we conclude algorithm governance is neither being funded nor prioritised sufficiently for success to be probable. Keep reading “Our Feedback on Algorithm Governance”
Dates of Meetings in 2022
Our monthly committee meeting are open to anyone who wishes to attend, either in-person or online.
A typical meeting includes:… Keep reading “Dates of Meetings in 2022”
Submission on DIA Long Term Insights Briefing on Participatory Democracy
The Council believes the ability to participate in the decision-making of central and local government is a fundamental part of our democratic systems. Keep reading “Submission on DIA Long Term Insights Briefing on Participatory Democracy”
The ethics of vaccine mandates
Philip Matthews has written a very good article in Stuff which discusses some of the ethical issues around vaccine mandates. … Keep reading “The ethics of vaccine mandates”
Outcome of Maritime Powers Bill
Select Committee made a minor adjustment in response to our submission, was split on one of our concerns, and failed to mention the third. Keep reading “Outcome of Maritime Powers Bill”