Legal Beagle by Graeme Edgeler

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Legal Beagle: D-Day for Dunne (updated)

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  • Sacha, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    the facts that are in the public arena

    yet

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Sacha,

    You're suggesting something will come out that contradicts the leak investigation report's assertion that the Kitteridge report was merely marked as "Sensitive"? One would hope that such a basic fact would be correctly reported from the outset.

    Or do you think that the classified appendices were leaked in contradiction of the investigation report's findings? There's no suggestion that such material has been made public, leading no doubt to the report's findings that those appendices remained held in accordance with their classification.

    ETA: I am basing this on having read the leak investigation report, not just on what's made it into the media. Feel free to cite a more authoritative source.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Tom Semmens,

    Que? Aside from some appendices which were classified, the report was merely marked as “Sensitive”

    While the report was marked as ’sensitive” it seems that it terms of the very limited distribution and the general way it was handled it was effectively indistinguishable from something marked “top secret”. Thus, it follows that (from a spooks POV) the leaking of this report also potentially held grave security implications for other cabinet documents treated in the manner reserved for “top secret”. This is I believe the origin of Dunne’s downfall. He thought he was just leaking a sensitive document, without grasping that the leak would be treated as gravely as the leak of a seriously top secret document.

    Also, to repeat – that our government bestows a merely sensitive report with all the security trappings trappings of national secrecy is to my mind an insight into a culture where habitual and compulsive secrecy is the norm – even when something might notionally merely be “sensitive”.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    He thought he was just leaking a sensitive document, without grasping that the leak would be treated as gravely as the leak of a seriously top secret document.

    I don't really know that his issue hinges around any laws being broken at all. It's enough that it's obviously him who leaked it to have him fall foul of the government, who are in coalition with him, and should be able to trust him not to leak any documents, whether they are top secret, or just pictures of Key in panties. That he won't release his email means there's something really silly in there that he's prepared to leave office over. Given he's at the end of his political career anyway, it could be something rather minor, that he just happens to find very shameful.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    I'm not disputing your reading of the security classification. Winston is alleging matters beyond the Kitteridge report and appendices were also 'leaked'. I guess we'll see.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to BenWilson,

    pictures of Key in panties. .... Given he’s at the end of his political career anyway, it could be something rather minor, that he just happens to find very shameful.

    The mind boggles!

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Danyl has thoughts on what evidence Winston has.

    ...

    So my guess is that Peters has the emails that were handed over to the Henry inquiry.

    ...

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    While the report was marked as ’sensitive” it seems that it terms of the very limited distribution and the general way it was handled it was effectively indistinguishable from something marked “top secret”.

    In limited distribution and the general way it was handled it was effectively indistinguishable from a cabinet paper on a new welfare policy. "We don't want this to get out now until we've put the right spin on it at the right time".

    Top secret documents don't get handed around cabinet. Most members of cabinet are likely to have never seen one.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

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