Bennett denies offering money to beneficiary

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Thu, 29 Apr 2010 6:05p.m.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett

The Social Welfare Minister, Paula Bennett, has been discovered having an intriguing “off the radar” meeting.

In 2009 Ms Bennett made a point of going public with two single mothers’ personal income details during a fight last year.

One of the women, Natasha Fuller, claims Ms Bennett had breached her privacy and complained to the Privacy Commissioner.

3 News believes the decision on that complaint is imminent.

However there are reports Ms Bennett made an offer to try make the complaint go away. This week the issue has resurfaced, but her dealings are being done in secret.

Watch Campbell Live's exclusive interview with Paula Bennett

3 News has obtained confidential documents which say a secret meeting took place yesterday between Ms Bennett and Ms Fuller.

A monetary settlement was discussed and the idea of Ms Fuller dropping the complaint was floated.

Advice from the Privacy Commissioner obtained by 3 News today is that the complainant, in any case, can withdraw their complaint and effectively shut down the investigation.

3 News understands the Privacy Commissioner was due to issue a ruling this week.

Ms Fuller did not want to be interviewed about her secret meeting on camera. However, she said she has had to have counselling, move house and change her phone number since Ms Bennett went public.

Going public is exactly what the opposition says the minister should have done.

“The Prime Minister should be very worried about that process. It is not transparent, it is not open, and it doesn’t seem to be very honest,” says Labour deputy-leader Annette King.

According to the documents 3 News has obtained, the deadline for a private settlement between Ms Bennett and Ms Fuller is tomorrow.

3 News

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Comments

01 May 2010 10:06a.m.

Jan.. wrote:

Country employees need is to be honest, be truefull, nothing but the thruth from all New Zealand employees..
We want our country to be the greenest and healthiest worldwide..

30 Apr 2010 07:14p.m.

Bart wrote:

I hope u can sort this out Dave, Maybe lodge a complaint. all the best aye. It's about time people stopped discriminating each other and learn a bit of respect and understanding for others. The current government especially. Bennet comes across as a walking contradiction.

30 Apr 2010 03:11p.m.

Sarah wrote:

I thought the purpose of posting comments was to comment on the story, not to abuse other posters!

I personally think it makes a change for TV3 to report some anti-National stories, watching Duncan Garner up JK's butt for the last year or so is nauseating!

In regards to PB, come on, let's be honest here she was naive in releasing the info and thinking she could get away with it, and has now learnt to keep her trap shut. Of course she met with this poor woman, and the irony of her saying "it's a private matter"!

I for one am ecstatic about seeing PB getting a taste of her own medicine, and seeing that smug self-satisfied grin knocked off her face was worth paying money for.

29 Apr 2010 10:37p.m.

Dave wrote:

I have been doing this for years Ngaire, winz has always discouraged me from bring in too many receipts, so I stopped keeping them.. I assumed that they had been telling me the truth about what I should and shouldnt be doing.

How exactly do you propose I b constructive about this situation Ngaire

I am unable to work, so many doctors have looked at me and said as much so I cant go out and work, as for losing my costs these are essential items.. is it my fault that I trusted in my case manager and what I had been previously told by Winz?

I am not going me me me, I am stating that if Winz arent informing of the right rules to follow how is it fair to penalise someone

I assumed I could trust me that the staff working at the Ministry of social development were telling me the truth.. the truth is actually that National do things very differently to Labour how am I supposed to know that their rules have changed if they send me no notification? no letter stating.. this is now needed?

My former case managers told me what information I needed to bring, without notice that has changed but nobody bothered to tell me

I went to go get firewood at the same meeting, my case manager said to me... is their anyone you can borrow the money from first? I said no, I am a beneficiary a bank wont give me a loan, I am estranged from my family

They made me feel like crap just having to ask for firewood when I have a lung disease and live in a cold state home

National belittles beneficiaries, it most certainly never helps them, or keeps them informed... the reason I read poltical stories online about what is happening is so that I can be better informed about whats going on than Winz keeps me

But up until now I had trusted that my case manager was keeping me fully informed of what I needed to do, but apparently she wasnt, and whats better is she doesnt care that she wasnt

She even admitted they were very lax in the past, is that my fault? I did what they said

29 Apr 2010 10:11p.m.

Jim wrote:

The problem with politicians is that they think that they are above the law. They hide behind 'Parlimentary privilege'. What Bennett has done is morally and ethically inappropriate for an MP. Further, she herself reaped the bennefits of our welfare state, and now does her best to chastise those who have little option but to need the welfare support. I guess life is viewed differently when you have the ultimate welfare cheque, that of an MP's salary and exorbitent expense account. I am glad I did not vote National. Bennett must go!

29 Apr 2010 10:07p.m.

kathy wrote:

Dave- please listen to Lightseed & visit your case manager - you should be taken care of. Yes! you will be!

29 Apr 2010 09:40p.m.

Dave wrote:

Yes this story has proved to be a crock of nonsense, bad reporting and sensationalism yet again.
'Dave' ! - get a life ! - stop moaning - stop being a victim - stop expecting the Government to rescuce you via the tax payers money. 'I Cant buy diapers' - well dont have babies !!! U stupid idiot - take some self responsibility. Good grief no wonder NZ is in the state it is with attitudes like that.

29 Apr 2010 09:24p.m.

Ngaire wrote:

Dave - this is the trouble about this country it is all about me me me. Dave, don't blame Paula Bennett for your problems. Do something about them yourself. Be constructive.

29 Apr 2010 09:05p.m.

john millan wrote:

Gee dave get your nuts out of a twist,If news about the National dirty tactics hurts you why do you go into the Tv3 news items,You are like a woman whots sits and watches a ratede film and complains next day.Just look at the minister of defence,mouthing off about 4 died in the chopper crash,even the National party make up stories.

29 Apr 2010 08:41p.m.

Lightseed wrote:

I suggest you read this Dave http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/individuals/forms-and-brochures/disability-assistance-guide.html, and if yo are telling the truth, can never tell with your posts, then I would have your doctor work with WINZ about your medical costs. And you do not need the receipts for the past 52 weeks, you can go into the chemist and get a print out of all medications you have used the past year, go into the doctors and get a print out for the past year, and take that to WINZ, but that is if you are telling the truth and not inventing something else like usual. and it is nothing new, it stated it on the application form when my pensioner father needed extra help a few years ago.