Wednesday, August 15, 2012

My advice to Paula Bennett re breaching privacy

Don't do it again.

Next time a Domestic Purposes Beneficiary starts to publicly complain about unfair treatment,  motivated either as an individual or by political activists, challenge them to disclose their full circumstances and income.

They don't need to be put under threat of exposure from the Minister. But they do need to know that they will be loudly challenged by you through newspapers, radio, television and social media.

You have the mana. You have the media pull. You can set up the platform. Use your power well. Use it to elicit the truth.

Call their bluff.

2 comments:

S. Beast said...

Good advice, hopefully she will listen instead of coming across as boorish and failing to lead by example (as MSD policy is to fire those who breach privacy).

Lindsay Mitchell said...

Actually that's a very good point S.Beast. Recently a WINZ employee was sacked for telling their partner someone they knew had applied for a benefit.