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Reporter Andrea Vance gets Parliamentary Service apology for privacy breach

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Last updated 09:03, December 24 2014

 

 

ANDREA VANCE: Parliamentary swipe card and phone records were accessed during the investigation.

 

Fairfax political reporter Andrea Vance has received an apology from Parliamentary Service over a breach of her privacy during an investigation into a leaked report.

 

In a statement, both Parliamentary Service and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) acknowledged "the personal hurt and humiliation that Ms Vance suffered as a result of personal information about her being accessed and released".

 

"While the agreement is confidential, we can say that the Parliamentary Service unreservedly apologises for its part, and DPMC regrets any part its actions played in contributing to that position," a spokesman said.

 

The privacy complaint arose after David Henry, a former commissioner of Inland Revenue, was asked to investigate who leaked a report written by Cabinet secretary Rebecca Kitteridge into the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB).

 

Vance's parliamentary swipe card and phone records were accessed during the investigation.

 

Fairfax group executive editor Sinead Boucher welcomed the resolution of Vance's complaint.

 

"I am happy that this complaint has been resolved to Andrea's satisfaction, and in a way that recognises the importance of journalists protecting their communications and the confidentiality of their sources."

 

A spokesman for the two agencies said they had given assurances they would establish robust process around the collection and disclosure of information.

 

That would take into account the recommendations made after an investigation by Parliament's privileges committee, "particularly around the privilege afforded by law to journalists".

 

It led to Revenue Minister Peter Dunne resigning his portfolios after he refused to give the inquiry all the emails it wanted. He denied being the source of the leak.

 

Henry's report did not point the finger at Dunne, but said that he could not be ruled out as he refused to hand over his emails.

 

- Stuff

 

http://www.stuff.co....-privacy-breach

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GCSB spying saga: Reporter receives apology

Adam Bennett. Adam is a political reporter for the New Zealand Herald

12:34 PM Wednesday Dec 24, 2014

 

Andrea Vance, right, earlier said she was "mad as hell" over the release of her phone records to an inquiry into who leaked the GCSB report. Photo / Mark Mitchell

 

In a last minute year-end coda to the serpentine illegal GCSB spying saga, Fairfax political reporter Andrea Vance has received an apology from Parliamentary Service over a breach of her privacy during the affair.

 

Vance's phone records and data tracking her movements around the parliamentary complex were accessed during an investigation into the leak of a report on the Government Communications Security Bureau's failings.

 

The report by former Cabinet Secretary and current SIS boss Rebecca Kitteridge was prompted by revelations of the GCSB's illegal spying on controversial German businessman and alleged internet pirate Kim Dotcom.

 

In a statement, both Parliamentary Service and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) acknowledged "the personal hurt and humiliation that Ms Vance suffered as a result of personal information about her being accessed and released" Fairfax reported this morning.

 

"While the agreement is confidential, we can say that the Parliamentary Service unreservedly apologises for its part, and DPMC regrets any part its actions played in contributing to that position," a Parliamentary Service spokesman was reported as saying.

 

Fairfax group executive editor Sinead Boucher said she welcomed the apology as a the resolution of privacy complaint Vance made over the incident.

 

"I am happy that this complaint has been resolved to Andrea's satisfaction, and in a way that recognises the importance of journalists protecting their communications and the confidentiality of their sources."

 

Former top public servant David Henry's investigation which accessed Vance's phone and swipe card records noted frequent communications between Vance and former Revenue Minister Peter Dunne in the days leading up to the leak of the Kitteridge report to her.

 

Mr Dunne denied being the source of the leak but resigned shortly after Mr Henry's findings were released.

 

He was subsequently reinstated as a minister following the election while Vance won reporter and political reporter of the year gongs at the Canon Media Awards this year.

 

- NZ Herald

 

http://www.nzherald....jectid=11378791