Changing his tune about media publicity on SAS operations, the PM this week spelt out a new policy on informing the public about action involving NZ’s elite troops, saying “they are not there to eat their lunch in Afghanistan.” Key says the new approach has been under discussion for some time. The change in policy follows newspapers saying the public has a right to know, justifying the publication of photographs of VC holder Willie Apiata on patrol in Kabul, despite increasing the risk of putting Apiata in greater danger as a target of the Taleban.

At the time, Key condemned publication, but the anomaly of keeping NZers in the dark while foreign media cannot be constrained forced a revision of policy. Some close to the Govt believe the PM should go further and deliver a statement in Parliament on “national security” (much as Kevin Rudd does annually in Canberra). National security is the top priority for any Govt, yet in NZ, it appears to be accepted the various arms of the national security apparatus should operate in total secrecy, without Parliamentary discussion, leaving the rest of the country in ignorance of both the dangers, the risks, and how they are being met. This is not the way an informed democracy should operate. Key will look more Prime Ministerial if he meets this challenge.

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