Too Long to Sort Out Security at WINZ

Two years is far too long to fix up the security around WINZ offices, says New Zealand First

“Work and Income staff and the public will face another two years of office shutdowns every time there is a security alert, says New Zealand First Social Development Spokesperson, Darroch Ball.

“We’ve already had 26 closures since last year’s fatal shootings in Ashburton.

“Every time an office is closed it is upsetting for the staff and the public are affected.

“While the Ministry of Social Development has announced it is committed to implementing the recommendations of the WINZ security review in the next two years, it is simply too long to wait.

“The recommendations from the review put safety as a major consideration. It is unbelievable that this should not have always been the case.

“Answers given by the Ministry at Parliament’s social services select committee around interim measures were not reassuring.

“Our frontline public servants need certainty in their safety and security now, not in the long term, says Mr Ball.

ENDS

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