Tell all … or take that!
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has thrown a hand grenade into the disclosure of private information debate.
Attacked in the media by two welfare beneficiaries who criticised the support they were receiving, she took the unprecedented step of releasing to media the income they were receiving from the State – without getting their permission or even telling them that she was going to take this action.
Wow! Every bank, insurance company, utility and company that has been on the receiving end of one sided media stories based on consumer complaints will have taken note of this one.
For years, lawyers have warned companies not to talk to the media about individuals unless the individual has first provided the company with a waiver allowing them to discuss ‘private’ information. It has led to a great deal of teeth gritting when waivers were withheld.
The Minister’s reason for driving a truck through privacy legislation is that “she has the right to release information on individuals if they left out relevant details when publicising their situation”.
I agree totally. But if it’s good enough for her, then I reckon it’s good enough for my clients.
Significantly the information was not released under the protection of Parliamentary privilege and it’s a reasonable assumption that Paula cleared this brave defence in advance with her Cabinet colleagues and Ministry lawyers.
If not, she might have a wee problem!
Tags: Bank complaints, Insurance Disclosures, Legal Advice, Media Disclosures, Parliamentary Privilege, Privacy Act, Welfare Disclosure
July 29th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Get hard NZ; I’m sick of the bleeding-heart overly PC cr@p. They get free money from the Government, and they’re complaining about it publicly, so surely we the public should at least know how much they’re complaining about here? where’s the common sense otherwise?
If these ladies aren’t getting enough money to live, then surely the amounts revealed should be easily justified. revealing the amount they get, if it truly isn’t enough, shouldn’t be any hindrance on their argument at all. simply all they’d have to do is breakdown their costs per week to the media, where THEY put themselves into the limelight lets not forget, and voila, NZ would be on side. the fact that this doesn’t seem to have happened, makes me pretty sceptical about the ladies argument. and I’m certainly not prepared to swallow that we just throw money at people to stop them complaining.
Bottom line: if you put yourself into the media light, the dirt will be revealed, one way or another…
July 29th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Regrettably media reports often thrive on only one side of the story being presented, and it can be extraordinarily difficult correct the balance.
Minister Bennett has done so very dramatically in this case. These campaigners for the Training Incentive Allowance had valid points to make, but there messages were also wrapped in their seeming claims of penury and poor families. They may not have intended this, but it was how their issue was presented to us – emotionally charged. Bennett’s take no prisoner approach has seen off their challenge, but in so doing created another issue.
Now the National Government will be required to measure up to the tell-all standard being set by one of their own Ministers. This may well turn out to be an Albatross.