4 August 2009 Media Statement
Bennett denies public “full story” on unemployment

Prime Minister John Key’s claim that Labour is scaremongering on unemployment numbers is hypocritical given his Social Development Minister has repeatedly refused to release her weekly updates, Labour Social Development spokesperson Annette King says.

“Paula Bennett made a big song and dance about ensuring the public is given the ‘full story’ last week - yet for the past two months she has refused to release the weekly reports she receives on the number of people signing up for the unemployment benefit.

“In response to my written parliamentary questions she has tried to justify her decision by claiming that ‘weekly data tends to be volatile’.

“I say so what! It smacks of a patronising attitude towards the public, who are perfectly able to appreciate that the numbers will go up and down. Furthermore the Government, including the Minister, has decided to release the information to the media at select times – undermining her own argument.

“In frustration I wrote to the Minister’s office over three weeks ago and then to the Speaker asking him address the matter with the Minister. I have also begun putting in Official Information Act requests,” Annette King says.

“I believe the Opposition and the public have the right to know what the unemployment benefit figures are on the same weekly basis as the Minister. Her decision to withhold and release the information only when it suits her is a joke given her “full story” claims last week.

“So it’s more than a bit rich for the Prime Minister to attack Labour for referring to the few figures that the Government has deigned to put out in the public arena.

“Only yesterday, three weeks after I wrote to the Minister, and probably at the urging of the Speaker, did I finally get a response from her office saying one OIA regarding one weekly report which is now almost one month old will be released.”

“The Minister also refused to release information, sought via written questions, on ReStart and the nine day working fortnight scheme until recently, which is a further indictment,” Annette King says.

ENDS

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