Explanatory note

This Supplementary Order Paper amends the Government Communication Security Bureau and Related Legislation Amendment Bill. The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (the Inspector-General) performs a watchdog function over the Security Intelligence Service (SIS) and the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB). While these agencies are subject to the Official Information Act 1982, the Inspector-General is not. The OIA includes withholding ground for information that could risk the security and defence or foreign relations of New Zealand, which would be sufficient to protect information. This amendment would include the Inspector-General and Deputy Inspector-General under Schedule 1 of the Official Information Act 1982.