Recycled drivel doesn't justify high cost of WINZ review

"Steve Maharey should be embarrassed by his insipid response to the Hunn report on management structures within WINZ," says National's spokesperson on Work and Income, Belinda Vernon.

"When Mr Maharey first met with Christine Rankin he emerged saying they'd put the past behind them and he'd clearly outlined his 'expectations' of her. Six months and an expensive review later he's saying exactly the same thing.

"The only piece of new information Mr Maharey has provided as a result of the costly report is that he intends to give increased flexibility to WINZ's Regional Commissioners..

"That comes less than a week after he disempowered those Regional Commissioners by stripping the Community Employment Group away from WINZ and placing it under the Department of Labour. That move has stripped regional WINZ offices of $26 million in funding, and a significant tool for creating jobs locally.

"Mr Maharey's comments in today's report make his intense posturing when he was in opposition even more laughable. This isn't the "fundamental change" he claims it to be, it's tinkering of the lowest order," Ms Vernon says.

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