New Zealand speaker 'sorry' for releasing journalist's phone records
New Zealand's speaker of Parliament has apologised to a journalist whose phone records were provided to an inquiry probing how she got a leaked report on the nation's spy agency.
New Zealand's speaker of Parliament has apologised to a journalist whose phone records were provided to an inquiry probing how she got a leaked report on the nation's spy agency.
"This is completely unacceptable and I have personally apologised to the journalist concerned," David Carter said yesterday. "This private information should not have been released, and could be seen to attack the freedom of the press."
Dunne was identified as having had frequent contact with the journalist who got the report, including 86 e-mail exchanges in the two weeks before the leak.
"I don't believe the release of information about a journalist or their records is appropriate," Prime Minister John Key said in Parliament yesterday.
Key's government has introduced legislation allowing the GCSB to carry out domestic spying under certain circumstances, prompting protests from political opponents and peace groups.
Earlier yesterday, a group called Anonymous New Zealand hacked into 14 of the governing National Party's websites, including Key's, protesting against the "despicable" legislation.
