Constitutional Issues, Democracy, Free Speech, Human Rights, NZ Bill of Rights, Publications, Talks and Submissions

Keith Locke’s submission to the NZ Parliament on the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill

[As presented in person to the Justice Select Committee, 30 April 2018] Summary I am strongly opposed to this Bill, and I urge the Select Committee to reject it. The Bill violates the right of Members of Parliament to free speech and the freedom of political association. These are fundamental human rights guaranteed in theContinue reading Keith Locke’s submission to the NZ Parliament on the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill

Constitutional Issues, Democracy, Free Speech, Human Rights, NZ Bill of Rights, Parliamentary Issues, Publications

Keith Locke: Party-hopping bill is a restraint on MPs’ freedom of speech

[An opinion piece published in the New Zealand Herald, 10 January 2018.] The bill before Parliament to stop party-hopping has been misnamed. The Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill should be called the Party Conformity Bill because it threatens MPs with ejection from Parliament if they don’t conform to party dictates. Personal political integrity will be constrained,Continue reading Keith Locke: Party-hopping bill is a restraint on MPs’ freedom of speech

Free Speech, Human Rights, New Zealand Herald, Publications, Sedition

Keith Locke: Let’s honour centenary of those we jailed for opposing wartime conscription

(An opinion piece published in the New Zealand Herald, 13 December 2016.) Most of us know there were conscientious objectors who refused to fight in World War I. Many were sent to jail for their stand. Less well-known are the 107 New Zealanders who were convicted for “sedition”, simply for speaking out against conscription orContinue reading Keith Locke: Let’s honour centenary of those we jailed for opposing wartime conscription

Human Rights, New Zealand Herald, Parliamentary Issues, Prisons, Publications

Keith Locke: The downside to a child sex offender register

Opinion piece published by the New Zealand Herald, 26 August 2015. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11503250 It’s difficult to have an adequate discussion of sex offender legislation because anyone taking a critical stance risks being labeled as soft on sex crimes. The Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Register) Bill is a case in point. There has been little publicContinue reading Keith Locke: The downside to a child sex offender register

Digital Surveillance, Evening Report, GCSB, Human Rights, Parliamentary Issues, Publications, Spy Agencies

No public accountability for the GCSB

[This was published on Evening Report on 9 March 2015.  http://eveningreport.nz/2015/03/09/keith-locke-no-public-accountability-for-the-gcsb/] By Keith Locke “YOU SHOULDN’T WORRY IF YOU’VE GOT NOTHING TO HIDE” is one of the mantras trotted out when New Zealanders complain about the GCSB having access to their private communications. Let’s turn that mantra around as ask those running the GCSB whyContinue reading No public accountability for the GCSB

Constitutional Issues, Democracy, Free Speech, Human Rights, NZ Bill of Rights, Parliamentary Issues, Publications, Talks and Submissions

Countering Terrorist Fighters Bill challenges citizen rights to a passport and privacy

On 27 November I gave this “oral submission” to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee opposing the Countering Terrorist Fighters Bill, which was being rushed through Parliament with unseemly haste. It’s a pleasure to be able to talk to members of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee again, and remember my 12 yearsContinue reading Countering Terrorist Fighters Bill challenges citizen rights to a passport and privacy

Defence, Free Speech, Human Rights, New Zealand Herald, Peace Issues, Publications, War

Keith Locke: There’s nothing great about Great War

WWI was a disastrous struggle for imperial power rather than a fight for freedom — and we must share blame [On 5 August 2014, on the 100th anniversary of New Zealand’s entry into World War I, I had this opinion piece carried in the New Zealand Herald.] Read this article on the NZ Herald websiteContinue reading Keith Locke: There’s nothing great about Great War

Constitutional Issues, Democracy, Free Speech, Human Rights, New Zealand Herald, NZ Bill of Rights, Parliamentary Issues, Publications

Keith Locke: Key jumping the gun over passports

[Back in February I wrote for the New Zealand Herald this opinion piece (below) on the illegality of the NZ government taking away the passports of New Zealanders for intending to fight overseas. I argued that the “national security” grounds in the Passports Act for cancelling NZ passports don’t apply because the Terrorism Suppression Act,Continue reading Keith Locke: Key jumping the gun over passports

Five Eyes, GCSB, Human Rights, Parliamentary Issues, Publications, Spy Agencies, Talks and Submissions, Waihopai

My submission to the Intelligence and Security Committee on the GCSB Bill

On 3 July I travelled to Parliament to speak to the Intelligence and Security Committee to explain my written submission on the GCSB Bill (see below for the text). Quite a lot of people and journalists were present, although I must admit that Kim Dotcom (who spoke to the committee an hour after me) was theContinue reading My submission to the Intelligence and Security Committee on the GCSB Bill