TheDirty Politics scandal that shook the New Zealand polity has gone into the investigation phase. The probe is looking into the charges made in the book Dirty Politics book that there was an undue haste in releasing Security Intelligence Service (SIS) documents to blogger Cameron Slater. The book made the allegation that the documents were used against the political rivals of the Government. Slater runs the Web site Whale Oil, reported Stuff.co.Nz The official documents that came into the hands of the blogger embarrassed Phil Goff, who was the leader of the Labour Party. Author Nicky Hager's charge was that the blogger was tipped off by someone powerful to ask for meaty information.

Deliberate Declassification

On the first day of the investigation proceedings, Labour leader Goff, who was mentioned in the book, presented his evidence before the Cheryl Gwyn Commission. Making that statement public, Goff said he specifically asked then-SIS director Warren Tucker whether he knew who Slater was. On speaking to the director, Goff learnt that the SIS officer intended to release the documents immediately. Tucker was not very forthcoming whether he knew the identity of Slater, who had requested the documents under the Official Information Act. Later, the SIS official acknowledged that he did know who Slater was. He would have released the documents immediately had Goff not intervened. Then Tucker suggested he would delay the release for a few more days.

Official Complicity

Goff said he was clear from the specificity with which Slater crafted his request that he had been advised by someone within the prime minister's office on what to ask for. The explanation that Slater had a source for the information did not cut much ice. It must have been either the SIS itself or the PM's office.

However, Goff was clear that none in the prime minister's office would provide inside information on what the SIS is doing without the tacit approval of the Prime Minister John Key. Nicky Hager's book created a political storm with charges of political vendetta by the ruling National Party against the opponents. Goff was the Opposition leader when he was subjected to the targeted attacks by the blogger. Hager's book also disclosed the role of Jason Ede, a staffer in the Prime Minister's Office, in acting as the conduit for the blogger with important official information.