Key either incompetent or misled the public – Green Party

John Key said he wasn't told the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) spied on Kim Dotcom but that isn't true so he has either misled the public or isn't doing his job as the minister in charge, Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman said today.

John Key was briefed about the GCSB involvement just over a month after the police raid on Kim Dotcom. He has previously said the first he knew of the spying was in September.

"The Prime Minister has sole democratic oversight of the GCSB but can't remember being told about its involvement in the Kim Dotcom raid," Dr Norman said.

"It's his duty and his job, as spelled out in law, to control the functions of the bureau. His hands-off approach also apparently extends to not paying attention when he is told important information.

"John Key said he didn't know until mid-September about illegal snooping by the GCSB on Kim Dotcom. Now it has been revealed he attended a briefing where its involvement was raised.

"We don't know what John Key was actually told, he can't remember and neither can GCSB director Ian Fletcher. Staff at the briefing had to remind them.

"As soon as he was aware of the GCSB's involvement in the Kim Dotcom raid, it was John Key's job to ask questions. Given that spying is what the GCSB do what did John Key think their involvement was?

"What else has gone on that the public hasn't been told?

"John Key has a serious responsibility to protect the interests of New Zealand citizens not sit back and let the GCSB act unlawfully.

"If John Key is finding the job of controlling the GCSB a bit hard maybe he should appoint another minister," Dr Norman said.