Minister accused of breaking privacy law

Social Services Minister Paula Bennett defends herself during question time in Parliament yesterday. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is facing a complaint under the Privacy Act for disclosing the amounts two solo mothers have received in benefits - but last night she remained unrepentant.

One of the mothers said she will complain to the Privacy Commissioner after Ms Bennett provided the Herald with details of the state support she and another had received. The Labour Party also plans to lodge a complaint with the commissioner.

Ms Bennett disclosed the women's weekly incomes after the pair - Natasha Fuller and Jennifer Johnston - objected to the Government's decision to stop the Training Incentive Allowance for solo parents doing tertiary level study.

Natasha Fuller, said she would complain and the Privacy Commission said it had received a number of calls from people concerned about the disclosure.

Any investigation is likely to also look at whether the Ministry of Social Development had breached privacy rules for passing the information to the minister.

Ms Bennett said her decision to reveal the extent of the help the state already provided the women was justified because they had repeatedly used their personal circumstances to speak out.

She denied she was trying to bully the women, saying she valued the right to have such debates. She was willing to meet the two mothers and described them as "gutsy" for arguing their corner. However, she said the episode was "a lesson" for anyone wanting to speak out that they should reveal the full facts of their situation.

Ms Bennett came under concerted attack in Parliament. Green MP Sue Bradford said her behaviour was "disgusting" and Labour's Annette King described it as "reminiscent of the days when Muldoon was in power and anybody that put their head up to speak out against Government policy was hit over the head with a political sledgehammer".

Prime Minister John Key backed Ms Bennett. He said he was not involved in authorising the release of the information but was "comfortable" with her decision. The women had put their stories into the public domain and he did not believe an apology was needed from Ms Bennett.

"What would be helpful was if all that information had been in the public domain in the first place so people can judge the merits of it," he said.

The two mothers yesterday said they felt bruised by the experience, especially the public reaction on talkback and comments on news media sites criticising beneficiaries.

Ms Johnston was undecided about complaining but saw little point in doing so. She said she was angry at the minister's actions and did not believe she had given consent "implied or otherwise". In hindsight, she possibly would not have spoken to the media "but I do believe this is a righteous fight".