Posts Tagged ‘benefit fraud’

Reactions to Metiria – the political and the personal

Written By: - Date published: 7:04 am, July 29th, 2017 - 181 comments

There are basically two kinds of reaction to Metiria’s bombshell, the practiced “outrage’ of the usual political operatives, and the support of the ordinary people. I think that the louder the operatives shout, the more that people are going to side with the under-dog.

National’s Bennett problem

Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, July 27th, 2017 - 94 comments

Graham Adams at Noted on Paula Bennett: “Nevertheless, these questions are not going to go away and what is certain is that Bill English can not afford to have Bennett share billboard space with him until they are answered satisfactorily”.

Benefit fraud vs white collar crime

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, July 18th, 2017 - 39 comments

The political hills are echoing with the aftermath of Meteri Turei’s confession of lying to WINZ, and Paula Bennett’s conciliatory and very precisely worded claim of not having done so “deliberately”. A good time to revisit the topic of benefit fraud vs white collar crime / tax evasion.

Metiria Turei and Paula Bennett on benefit fraud

Written By: - Date published: 10:46 am, July 17th, 2017 - 241 comments

Turei’s admission that she lied to WINZ back in the day was a political gamble. It could resonate with a big chunk of non-voters – here’s a politician that’s just like us – has been through what we’re going through. On the other hand it gives the usual mean-spirited righties a club to beat her with. Interesting that Paula Bennett is treading so lightly round the issue.

Hypocrisy and the cost of crime

Written By: - Date published: 7:54 am, October 21st, 2014 - 58 comments

The Government canned a report on the costs of various kinds of economic crime. RNZ obtained a copy under the OIA, and we can see why the Nats would never have wanted it released…

Welfare fraud and reform

Written By: - Date published: 9:19 am, August 11th, 2011 - 58 comments

National will keep demonising the most vulnerable members of society for electoral gain, while turning a blind eye to much bigger problems.

Fraud vs incompetence

Written By: - Date published: 7:10 pm, December 7th, 2010 - 28 comments

The Nats like to talk tough about “benefit fraud”.  But ONE News reports that simple incompetence in the Ministry of Social Development costs three times as much.  Perhaps cutting more public sector jobs, and putting the remaining workers under even more stress, will help fix the problem, do you think?