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Hager files human rights case against Westpac

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Thu, 23 Feb 2017, 3:42PM
Nicky Hager with his destroyed computer outside Auckland High Court (Dean Purcell).
Nicky Hager with his destroyed computer outside Auckland High Court (Dean Purcell).

Hager files human rights case against Westpac

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Thu, 23 Feb 2017, 3:42PM

Investigative journalist Nicky Hager is taking Westpac's breach of his privacy to the Human Rights Tribunal.

Westpac handed more than 10 months of Mr Hager's bank transactions over to police - no questions asked.

Police didn't have a production order and wrongly said they were investigating Mr Hager for fraud.

The records were obtained in the lead up to a police raid on Mr Hager's home in 2014.

Mr Hager's lawyer, Felix Geiringer, says Westpac failed to acknowledge its mistake or make amends.

Now Mr Hager wants action - not just for him - but for everyone whose banks are releasing private information to police without their knowledge.

"He has asked Westpac to acknowledge that it breached his rights. Despite the Privacy Commissioner's ruling, it has not been prepared to do that," Mr Geiringer said.

A spokeswoman for Westpac confirmed that was the case and said the bank had no further comment to add.

Mr Geiringer said Hager would not only ask for an order ensuring Westpac couldn't give its customers bank transaction data to the police without a warrant, but would also ask for an order requiring the bank to notify anyone whose privacy may have been breached.

A separate claim by Hager against the police is still before the High Court.

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