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Paula Bennett - Source: ONE News -
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Labour has accused the Government of using bullying Muldoon-style tactics to silence welfare policy critics.
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is unapologetic for releasing the income details of two solo mothers who criticised Government policy, saying she did it to round out the story.
Jennifer Johnston and Natasha Fuller went public last week with their criticism over the scrapping of the training incentive allowance (TIA).
On Tuesday, the New Zealand Herald reported Bennett's office had provided it with details of the Government benefits that the solo mums received.
Bennett says while she did not ask the women's permission to release the information she felt they had taken the matter public by talking to the media, establishing a website and writing a blog.
Labour Social Development spokeswoman Annette King says the government was trying to silence critics by releasing personal information it held on them.
"I can only assume that a new standard is being applied. I have to say it is reminiscent of the days when Muldoon was in power anybody that put their head up, that was to speak out against Government policy was hit over the head with a political sledge hammer," King says.
She challenged Bennett to release how much she received while studying and receiving the DPB.
King believed the women had given all relevant detail concerning the cuts to training allowances they were using to get off benefits, they had not talked about how much they were getting to support their children.
"Every New Zealander has the right to privacy...because you are a beneficiary you are not a second, third or fourth class citizen when it comes to privacy."
MP Charles Chauvel has now also laid a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner, saying he believes Bennett has broken the Privacy Act.
Bennett says she felt the women had left out key information when telling their stories.
"The thing is there is the level of assistance there for people and we wanted them to be aware of that."
The women were misleading the public by releasing "selective information", Bennett says.
"I think most New Zealanders will see that actually they've been given a real fair go."
Information from Bennett's office showed Fuller received $715 net a week and Johnston $554.
Fuller gets $28 a week from the TIA and also got the allowance from 2004 to 2006.
In 2006-2007 she received $9560 under the enterprise allowance to start a cleaning business which had since closed.
Both women had used the TIA to help pay for university preparatory courses. They had planned to use the allowance to fund part of their university studies.
Johnston wanted to study nursing and Fuller early childhood teaching.
This year the Government restricted the TIA to study at NCEA Level 3 or under. Those now studying for a degree will continue to get the allowance until 2011.
The women were unsure whether they could continue with their planned study without the TIA.
Bennett says she was keen to meet the women and releasing the information was not an attempt to silence them.
Prime Minister John Key told reporters he was "comfortable" with the women's information being released.
"The advice I have received is it's within Ministry of Social Development guidelines."
"I think the minister was trying to put a bit of balance around the story, wasn't being over judgemental but was simply saying here are all the facts and New Zealanders can assess whether the government's on the right track or not."
Do you think Paula Bennett has gone too far in revealing
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Post new commentMerca said on 2009-08-19 @ 21:38 NZDT: Report abusive post
I think you are wrong, allot of women on the DPB want to get into work, and yes it's a shame that the TIA is cut to help them out.
Merca said on 2009-08-19 @ 21:36 NZDT: Report abusive post
You would find that most people would of been financially stable before they broke up. I have never meet a DPB receiver that decides to have kids when they are not financially stable. You should try to stop assuming things and accidents do happen too, after all we are all human are we not?
ManuJ said on 2009-08-17 @ 22:17 NZDT: Report abusive post
I think the majority of people believe that the DPB is a carrer choice and milk the system for all its worth without any thought of a career. Many actually lose their ambitions to create an independant future for themselves and have more babies while receiving the DPB. The govt should put a clause into the policy for those who want the Training Allowance. Agree to pay all the expenses and if the applicant agrees to this, they forefit their right to the DPB in the future.
santa0007 said on 2009-08-17 @ 17:00 NZDT: Report abusive post
Privacy is not possible in New Zealand,The current MP,s are not qualified to even view any info relating to any subject unless they are "qualified",we all vote for.......strangers based on how well they look/dance/rich/poor but not on there qualifications. There CV and position dictates authority and expectations of many things but postulation of harm to others by an MP is not correct behaviour.How many people have been turned away from a food parcel or access to water & housing.
tofel1 said on 2009-08-01 @ 11:13 NZDT: Report abusive post
It is unfair for people who is working to pay for other people's mistake. I am working hard and do extra hours to save money for my child's expense. If these solo mother can't pay for their living and the children's living costs, they should not have children at the first place. It is unfair the the children and tax payers. They are the parasites in the society.