Extra spy spend all hush-hush

By EUGENE BINGHAM

Spies have pocketed an extra $1 million of public money but New Zealanders are being kept in the dark as to why.

The Security Intelligence Service and the Government Communications Security Bureau both received funding boosts, taking to more than $31 million the amount of taxpayers' money spent on spying by the two agencies.

Budget documents show the SIS has been allocated $11.5 million, an increase of 5 per cent, while the GCSB received an extra $604,000.

Despite the Coalition's culture of public accountability no explanation has been given for the increases.

Legislation passed last year requires the SIS to provide Parliament with an annual report, though it is unclear how much the service will disclose.

Green Party co-leader Rod Donald said yesterday that he was surprised the agencies had received more money because the Alliance had been outspoken about them before it went into coalition.

"I would have thought with [Deputy Prime Minister] Jim Anderton on the intelligence and security committee, their budgets would have come under more scrutiny.

"I'm horrified they have had a funding increase."

A spokesman for Mr Anderton referred comment to the Prime Minister's office. He confirmed it was Alliance policy to review the agencies and introduce more democratic scrutiny of them.

Prime Minister Helen Clark, who has responsibility for the agencies, was unavailable for comment yesterday.