Gwyn tight-lipped about leak investigation

Cheryl Gwyn. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Cheryl Gwyn is refusing to comment on whether the Prime Minister's text exchange with Whaleoil blogger Cameron Slater will be part of her investigation into the leak of her recent report into the SIS' handling of an OIA request from Mr Slater.

Ms Gwyn said she was yet to speak to Labour MP Phil Goff in her investigation into the leak of that report, which looked at the SIS" handling of an OIA request from Mr Slater for briefing notes between former SIS head Warrant Tucker's meeting with Mr Goff. Ms Gwyn has now initiated a further inquiry into the apparent leak of details of her findings to the media the day before the report was released.

"I'm investigating that leak and I've invited Mr Goff to discuss it with me. I'll be making public the outcome of that discussion in due course."

She refused to comment on whether the PM's texts with Whaleoil blogger Cameron Slater on the eve of the report's release would form part of her inquiry.

In those texts, Mr Slater said to Mr Key that a journalist had told him Mr Goff had leaked the report. Mr Key replied "It's a joke isn't it. They will attack Jason for talking to u and they break the confidentiality agreement. Classic lab."

Asked if she stood by comments in the report that Mr Key's staffer had tipped Mr Slater off to make an OIA request for the "political purposes," she said she would let her report speak for itself.

Mr Key has said Mr Slater contested her finding that Mr Key's former staffer Jason Ede had tipped Mr Slater off about the briefing paper. Mr Slater has said his source was an SIS staffer.

Ms Gwyn was at Parliament this morning to speak to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee about the Countering Terrorist Fighters Legislation Bill.

Ms Gwyn would not comment on the evidence she gave to the committee, but said she had not said anything she would not say publicly. SIS head Rebecca Kitteridge was also back before the committee today.

In an unusual decision, committee chair Mark Mitchell allowed the media to remain in the room for Ms Gwyn's evidence on the grounds it was not reported until after the Bill was reported back to the House. Most media decided not to stay.

The legislation is expected to go back before Parliament tomorrow.