19 Dec 2018

Mining agency 'needs to go now' - Forest and Bird

From Morning Report, 6:09 am on 19 December 2018

The chair of the Government owned quake settlement agency has resigned over revelations it spied on claimants. Ross Butler stood down last night after the Prime Minister said the report revealed disturbing and unethical behaviour. The State Services Commission report says the company engaged in illegal spying and classified a range of activist groups as potential security risks. Forest and Bird's chief executive, Kevin Hague, says the report shows some in the public sector have forgotten they exist to serve the public. He's calling for the group that oversees the petroleum and minerals industry to be disbanded immediately.