$48,000 P.A. no skills easy hours, call me.

[Finn]

I like her a lot. In fact we need more people like her in Government.

As for those blood sucking leeching bitches who spread their legs for the first guy that buys them a drink and expect the rest of us to raise their bastard children can go get fucked. Not literally though, we can't afford it.

These dumb bitches went to battle using the media and got egg on their pathetic faces.

Good on her.

[Oscar]

Err - isn't the amount of a benefit public knowledge?
What was she telling me that I couldn't have otherwise worked out myself?

[MisterD]

Get in bed with the Liarbour party and cry "I'm so hard done by, give me sympathy, the government's so nasty!" then you're asking for it...at least Paula was upfront about it, instead of just leaking the info to friendly repeaters like the last lot would have done.

The argument of these latest of Phil Gaffe's stooges are arguing that they can't afford to better their position without the allowance...we can now see they earn more than the average wage for sitting on their cans and are perfectly able to go get an interest free student loan...balance, it wasn't there before but now it is.

[Hitcher]

This issue isn't about Westie solo mums on the DPB wanting to further their studies. It's about the public being able to have all of the facts in front of them so that a balanced discussion can be had on an issue. I think that Minister Bennett made the right call on this. There will be some who question her ethics, but don't forget there is public money at issue here and taxpayers are entitled to know how their hard-earned tax-paid dollars are being invested -- wisely one hopes in these dire economic times.

[Oscar]

Hate to say but how many would be happy with any politician giving out your own private business to all and sundry, which is what happened.But also why should people get hammered by an MP for speaking out.

We have privacy laws for that privacy of my personal property.

And the Greens getting in on it on TV just for their gain is a piss off.

Maybe there is more to this than first reported,as usual,get the scoop first then check the facts.

But then if she gets that amount from the govt,I sure as shit hope her kids father is paying,somehow I doubt it,she must have 5 or 6 kids in her care.

I agree, private business should be kept private.
But how is a benefit private?
The rates are listed for all to see, surely?

This is tax payers money we're talking about here, why shouldn't we (the people who are forking out this dosh) know what these women are earning, particularly if they're trying to make a case to be paid more?

[Oscar]

I dont know what other KB'ers think about this maggoty wench announcing the weekly benefit rate of two ladies on the DPB but I think its f***ed!!!! How bloody rude, and what bad form. Im sure there will be a bit of beneficiary bashing started up here, but thats not really the point IMO. I have experienced both sides of the fence, I was on the DPB 6-7 years ago, and then got a job working for WINZ on the phone lines for 2 odd years.
When I was on the benefit it was a real struggle, and I made use of the Training Incentive Allowance........and its not a case of they give you extra money each week for being a good little solo mother trying to better yourself........ it pays for your fees, books etc and subsidises your childcare-not to mention you have to jump thru rings to get it.
So, because these two women have publicly objected to it being scrapped - the bitch has revealed their private information - surely that is abuse of power - well I think it is, and I'm disgusted this motherfucker calls herself a westie - It almost makes me embarrased to be one.........

Firstly, who paid your benefit?
What makes you think the info is private?

Secondly, why should beneficiaries get an Training Incentive Allowance?
My kid's at University on his own dollar, and he don't get one.

[Mom]

If you live in a glass house do not throw stones, or even, do not bite the hand that feeds you.

Incredible amount of money being paid out each week to that woman.

Years ago, when my marriage went splat, I was working 20 hours a week and had 3 children to support. I owned a couple of rental houses that after the mortgage was paid, topped my income up to something that was close to a living wage. I was burned out and not wanting to work any harder. I was content at the time to potter along till I got myself back on my feet head wise again.

The company I worked for was sold and there was not a job for me. I had a month to find work. Because I had the kids I did not want to be in a place where I did not have the income. I rang WINZ to see what was involved in getting some support incase I could not find another job in time.

Now dont quote me here on the numbers, but it went something like this. I was entitled to the base benefit of $150 a week. My rent was $230. I was then eligible for accomodation supplement of $100 a week. Great now I have $20 to pay for everything else. I could get family support (no, not eligible due to last years income while married and the division of property that saw my income (on paper only mind) in the top income stream. Not eligible. Then I was told I could earn $80 per week without it affecting my benefit. Great, I was now up to $100 per week to pay for food, power, phone etc. Problem was my rental income was more than $80 per week. That is when I was told as a result I was not entitled to accomodation supplement, back down to the base benefit of $150 per week with 3 kids to support.

All this and I would have to bare my soul and all my personal life to some pimply faced case manager at my local WINZ office. I told the guy, thanks but no thanks, I wa off to get a job packing shelves at the supermarket...LOL

Never came to that, but what a crock. Obviously you need to know how to play the game to earn the good money on the DPB.

[davereid]

If you start a public debate, based around the premise that the state does not pay you enough, then the figure you are paid is an essential part of that debate.

I don't see any wriggle room there. Bennet did not pick on random, anonymous bludgers and say "Hey, we pay Ms. Smith, Ms. Jones, Ms. Rangi $48,000 a year.

What happened was a response to an accusation, and IMHO the only response that actually tells the entire picture. (Good on ya Paula xxx, check yer email.)

What bothers me most, is the amount we pay.

As I pointed out in the first post, this beneficiary gets $48,000 P.A. gross.
50% of NZ workers get $38,000 gross or less., in fact under $35,000 for women.

Their is NO WAY it will ever be economic for this woman to get of the DPB, it will only happen when she loses eligibility.

[pete376403]

And of course, Paula Bennett will be publishing the amounts she recieved as a solo mother beneficiary, if only so we can see how hard done by she was back then.

[MIXONE]

And of course, Paula Bennett will be publishing the amounts she recieved as a solo mother beneficiary, if only so we can see how hard done by she was back then.

However much it was back then it's a shit load more now because she is actually working...

[Winston001]

And of course, Paula Bennett will be publishing the amounts she recieved as a solo mother beneficiary, if only so we can see how hard done by she was back then.

That's a red herring - Paula Bennet isn't doing the complaining that the taxpayer isn't paying enough to these ladies. Whatever way you cut it, that is the nub of what they are saying - they aren't getting enough from the public purse.

[Phurrball]

... Successful government ministers have to master an ocean of paperwork. They have to understand exactly what their department is doing; otherwise, sooner or later, something will blow up in their face. But Bennett, whether intentionally or not, may be cutting herself off from full information about her portfolio.

According to a variety of Beehive, public service and sectoral sources, Bennett responds best to abbreviated information. Officials within the Ministry of Social Development are making efforts to simplify information as much as possible to appeal to Bennett.

Although not all information is being condensed, several sources mentioned efforts to put information to Bennett on one page no bigger than A3 and preferably with only a few bullet points.

Graphics and pictorial representations of information are preferred. In one example, one Ministry of Social Development report was shortened several times on the request of a manager because it was believed this was the only way to get the minister to read it.

According to one chief executive in the NGO sector who met her at an umbrella meeting of welfare organisations, Bennett told them: “I don’t read. Don’t send me big documents – I don’t read them.”

The problem, says the chief executive, is that proposals put to the Government do require detail, background and explanation. “How do you convey all that detail and complexity in one page? You have got senior government officials trying to reduce complicated ideas to graphs and pictorials because they know otherwise she won’t read them. We are trying to convert quite complex ideas into flow charts and graphs and diagrams. It’s astonishing.”

Some Cabinet ministers are known to like data and statistics. Others prefer narratives and personal examples to get to grips with a policy idea. But all tend to want more written information, not less, says the chief executive, who does not want to be named because it could affect his organisation’s funding. ...

Full Listener story here. Some parts of it more complimentary.

Sounds about the level of some here.

[Swoop]

I dont know what other KB'ers think about this maggoty wench announcing the weekly benefit rate of two ladies...

Paula Bennett has done the right thing. Any fool can work out what a person would earn on the dole/benefit/whatever.

Another non-issue that the media is hyping up since there is obviously no other newsworthy events that require their valuable time...

Err - isn't the amount of a benefit public knowledge?
What was she telling me that I couldn't have otherwise worked out myself?

Quite so!

[ynot slow]

The thing these ladies are pissed off is,they were outed getting big dollars,sure the info is available but also extras are thrown in which adds to the final payout.

And maybe the 2 ladies should have thought what might happen if they went and chucked their toys out,but cuts both ways.

Apparently on the trade me community crap there is info on these ladies enjoying getting pissed and other shit,and from one ladies neighbour lol.

[Finn]

Full Listener story here. Some parts of it more complimentary.

Phurrball reads the Listener, Phurrball reads the Listener...