by Russell Malcolm, Yellow Vest NZ
So while everyone is watching the National leadership circus, there’s another story that deserves a hell of a lot more attention.
On the same day Chris Penk was stripped of his ministerial portfolios and announced he won’t seek re-election, a judicial review was filed in the Wellington High Court challenging Government approvals for BlackSky satellite launches from New Zealand.
The same day.
And there’s a very direct connection to the people involved in today’s political drama.
Judith Collins, when she was Minister for Space, approved four BlackSky launches.
Chris Penk, after taking over the Space portfolio, approved another 26 in April.
Both are named in the legal challenge.
The plaintiffs say the satellites could provide imagery and intelligence capable of being used by Israel’s military in Gaza, and they are challenging whether the Government properly exercised its legal obligations when approving the launches.
And let’s be very clear about the gravity here.
This isn’t a dispute over some obscure bit of government paperwork.
The plaintiffs are alleging that New Zealand-approved satellite launches could contribute to military operations in Gaza, against the backdrop of genocide findings concerning Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry has found that Israel committed genocide in Gaza. The International Court of Justice has also found it plausible that Palestinians in Gaza hold rights under the Genocide Convention requiring protection from acts of genocide.
The High Court is now being asked to examine the Government’s decisions.
That’s serious. And yet on Wednesday, the political news cycle was almost entirely swallowed by:
LUXON SURVIVES.
PENK SACKED.
WHO TRIED TO ROLL HIM?
ERIKA? BISHOP? PENK?
WHO HAD THE NUMBERS?
Meanwhile, there is a legal challenge over Government decisions that potentially have consequences far beyond the walls of Parliament. I’m not saying those things are connected. I’m saying the timing is bloody interesting.
And whatever you think about Chris Penk’s role in the leadership drama, this legal challenge deserves attention in its own right.
Three New Zealand citizens have brought the case: engineer Yasser Abdulaal, IT professional Maher Nazzal and doctor Timoti Te Moke. They’re asking the High Court to examine Government decisions.
So while everyone is busy arguing about whether Penk tried to roll Luxon, maybe we should also be asking:
What exactly did the Government approve?
What did it know when it approved those launches?
What obligations did it have?
And was it lawful?
Because one political scandal might dominate the news cycle for a day.
But a legal challenge over whether New Zealand has allowed space infrastructure to potentially contribute to military operations in Gaza?
That deserves to be looked at. So let’s look at it.