Judith Collins
National Party Families Spokeswoman
3 February 2005

Families first, not ''political masters''

National's Families spokeswoman Judith Collins says Families Commissioner Rajen Prasad should be representing New Zealand families, not his "political masters" among the Labour Government.

Last week Dr Prasad entered into political debate by attacking Don Brash's speech to the Orewa Rotary Club.

This week, when asked by the Social Services select committee how the public would judge if the $7 million Families Commission annual budget was well-spent, Dr Prasad's answer included a reference to what his "political masters" think of the Families Commission.

"He is paid by New Zealand families to look after their interests, not the interests of the Labour Government," says Ms Collins.

"What do his "political masters" have to do with the families he is supposed to be working for?

"The Families Commissioner could save the taxpayer $7 million a year, and 24.5 bureaucrats, 6.5 of whom seem to be there solely to look after one chief executive, 10 policy researchers, and seven community relations workers," says Ms Collins.

"It sounds like a lot of spin, a lot of money, and not a lot of common-sense. What does that have to do with struggling Kiwi families, over-taxed and under-appreciated?"

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