The Greens want the government to ban private companies from spying on people. The call follows reports that animal welfare activists had tracking devices put on their cars by private investigators.
It is believed the investigators were hired by piggery owners.
Green Party MP Keith Locke says the Search and Surveillance Bill, currently before parliament, provides the perfect opportunity to introduce the law. He says we live in a free and open society so shouldn't have our privacy intruded on in this way.
Now where, we wonder were Keith Locke and his squeals of outrage when animal activists broke in to a pig farm a couple of years ago with Mike King? Locke, of course, had nothing whatsoever to say. It's obviously fine, in his worldview for activist good guys to break into private property. But when property holders take steps to defend themselves - stop the bus; it's outrageous!
Pardon us Keith, but your hypocrisy is showing.
13 comments:
Aside from taking the opportunity to attack Keith Locke, what are your views on the alledged practice of tracking members of the public with electronic devices attached to their cars.
And do you support the 'Pig Board' acting in this way?
Would you be happy if Greenpeace or Sea Shepard did the same thing?
If not, why not?
How about the Mongrel Mob? Like one of their tracking devices attached to your car Invent?
I'm not for one moment condoning the tracking of private citizens Robert. I'm merely pointing out the hypocrisy in Keith Locke supporting the rights of activists to break the law (as SAFE did with it's illegal enrty of a pig farm), whilst crying foul when the tables are turned.
A double standard, don't you think Robert?
RG - simple answeres really/
1. 100% per cent behind tracking people who consistently break the law.
2. 100% support for the pork board.
3. Given Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd are regular law breakers they probably do this already.
4. Ditto for the Mongrel Mob and Black Power who both have sophisticated back room operations run by people other than the unwashed thugs you see on the street.
Simple answer for Keith Locke - tell your lawbreaking mates to stay at home and not harass people going about their lawful business.
Standard activist "two wrongs make a right" and "the ends justify the means" kind of stuff. They know it's hypocrisy, they just don't care. It's all about power to activists, not the things they seek to save. That's how they make a career out of it.
Yep, well said Anon. Activism thrives on a doctrine that the end justifies the means. Just ask Pete Bethune or Paul Watson.
The activists missed the tracking devices that the police have installed on their cars.
Hush your mouth Alex! If Keith Locke hears that, he won't just be outraged, he'll be incandescent!
Perhpas they think the law only applies when they're the victims of someone else's actions and not when they are the perpetrators.
I'm very happy that someone can be tracked if they are a threat, private or not in NZ.
Activists are a threat, they have shown throughout modern history that they are happy to cross the line in furtherence of their cause.
I am against making it illegal for Individuals and organisations (including companies) to surveille people they consider a threat..
Activists commit burglary, even malicious damage and sabotage and then argue in court it was for the greater good.
The police and security services are there for the protection of the State and public order not for individuals and companies.
Plus they are increasingly politised here in NZ so can one necessarily trust them anyway.
Mikenz
Inv. You may not be 'condoning the tracking of private citizens', but your commenters are!
It surprises me that they are so willing to embrace facist methods when it suits them. Even you rail against Keith rather than the alleged practice of the 'Pig Board'.
"A double standard, don't you think Robert?"
Yep!
Firtly Robert, I'm not responsible for what commenters put on here. Ever since I started blogging, it has been my policy not to moderate or to censor, unless a comment was grossly persoanlly offensive or defamatory. The only time I have ever deleted a comment is at the request of the person who placed it. Comments left here will stand, or fall, on their merits.
Back to the issue at hand; I just find it odd that Locke is so concerned about the rights of animal activists when he showed no concern to the property owners on whose property said animal activists trepassed. I would have thought that it is an MP's duty to endorse the law in ALL circumstances; isn't that part of the oath of alliegance they swear or affirm?
Invent. I wasn't blaming you for their comments.
I read lots of criticism of 'activists' and keith Locke, but little of the Pork Board's alleged behaviour in employing others to spy on members of the public.
I imagined you all to be staunch anti-authoritarian/big brother behaviour but all I hear is criticism of someone who clearly opposes the use of such methods by an agency outside of those charged with keeping us safe.
RG you can be sure that when a news article is about the outrage of activists I switch off to any wrong doing they may have suffered. Activists are at war with everyone and anyone. They seek out all the trouble they get. Now if an average Joe was being tracked while going about his business, for the sake of collecting random data, that would be wrong. Activists abuse their right to live peacefully because without exception they go looking for trouble.
Post a Comment