Bennett: I consulted website before releasing mums' benefits

Paula Bennett. File photo / Herald on Sunday

Paula Bennett has this afternoon told Parliament that, apart from reading the Privacy Commission's website, she did not seek any advice before releasing personal details about the benefits received by two solo mothers.

Ms Bennett told Parliament that guidelines for ministers on the Privacy Commissioner's website allow people to give "implied consent" for their details to be released.

The two mothers had spoken out to media about allowance cutbacks.

The Green Party has labelled the release as "beneficiary bashing".

Details of the mothers' state benefits were made public by the Government after the pair criticised cutbacks to a training allowance.

Staff from Social Development Minister Paula Bennett's office gave the

Herald

a tally of each woman's weekly income from the state - including benefits and other allowances -

after the women spoke out in the Herald on Sunday

and Labour used their stories in Parliament last week.

The details were handed over without the knowledge of the mothers, Jennifer Johnston and Natasha Fuller.

The Green's social development spokeswoman Sue Bradford said she believes the release was a breach of the Privacy Act and encouraged the women to make a formal complaint.

"The National Government is sending out a loud message that if any unemployed person or beneficiary dares to speak in public about issues that affect them personally, the Government will use all its power to discredit and humiliate them," Ms Bradford said, referring also to the case of Bruce Burgess