NEW ZEALAND|Politics
Christchurch mosques terror attack evidence suppressed by Royal Commission for 30 years
27 Nov, 2020 01:16 PM
Evidence given by ministers and public sector bosses to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch terrorist attack will be suppressed for 30 years.
And an interview with the Australian-born terrorist will never be released out of concern it could inspire and assist further attacks.
The inquiry's report was provided to Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti yesterday and will be publicly released on December 8, after first being shared with victims' families and political party leaders.
It will detail any failings by police, spies, and other government agencies in the leadup and aftermath to the mosque shootings on March 15, 2019, in which 51 people were killed.
In a final minute issued yesterday, commissioners Sir William Young and Jacqui Caine said evidence and submissions by public sector chief executives and current and former ministers would be subject to non-publication orders for 30 years.
National security was cited as a reason for the suppressions. Full publication of the evidence could provide a "how-to manual for future terrorists", the commissioners said. Those concerns would likely have "dissipated" in 30 years, they said.
They also said they wanted to protect the confidentiality of the people who spoke to the commission.
"We told them that our process was private and that we would not publish in our report what they told us without first going back to them.
"We did this with a view to encouraging candour, which we received."
Islamic Women's Council national coordinator Anjum Rahman said the suppressions raised concerns about accountability…
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/christchurch-mosques-terror-attack-evidence-suppressed-by-royal-commission-for-30-years/