National MP refuses to endorse Orewa II

Katherine Rich

National MP Katherine Rich is refusing to say if she supports the tough welfare policies party leader Don Brash revealed in Tuesday's Orewa speech.

Mrs Rich, the party's welfare spokeswoman, was asked four times by the Herald yesterday if she supported the policies Dr Brash outlined in his high-profile speech, which particularly targeted domestic purposes beneficiaries.

But each time the MP refused to endorse the speech. Her refusal raises the question of whether she was consulted enough about its content.

Earlier, Social Development and Employment Minister Steve Maharey questioned Mrs Rich's silence this week and her failure to turn up at Orewa for the speech.

He said there were rumours she was one of a group of MPs - including finance spokesman John Key and chief whip Simon Power - who had tried to dissuade Dr Brash from focusing on welfare.

Asked by the Herald to respond to Mr Maharey and back Dr Brash's policies, Mrs Rich said in a break during the first day of a two-day caucus that she was not going to dignify Mr Maharey's statement with a response.

Asked if she supported Dr Brash's welfare speech, she referred to Mr Maharey's statement and said: "This kind of stuff is inane." Asked the same question again she replied: "That's not really an issue. Don's put up a package, it's for debate, it's to create public discussion.

"Steve Maharey's just fishing around for something to deflect what is a major debate for this country and that's the only comment I feel the need to make."

She ended the interview when asked a final time if she supported Dr Brash's policies.

National's only Maori MP, Georgina te Heuheu, was stripped of her Maori affairs portfolio after criticising Dr Brash's race relations speech last year at Orewa.

Last night, Dr Brash said a large part of his speech had come from Mrs Rich's 2003 discussion paper on welfare. He was unaware that she disagreed with any parts of his speech.

Mr Maharey cited a comment Mrs Rich made to a newspaper in 2002, which said: "Most of the people I meet on the DPB are pretty motivated people who have the same dreams and aspirations as the rest of us. Beneficiary bashing is a most unsatisfactory practice. It doesn't really take you anywhere."

In contrast to Mrs Rich's reticence, National's families spokeswoman, Judith Collins, yesterday issued a statement vigorously defending her leader from a "misguided outburst" by Families Commissioner Rajen Prasad.

Dr Prasad said yesterday Dr Brash's speech potentially drove a wedge between "Kiwi battlers" and beneficiaries by putting families in two camps.

But Ms Collins said Dr Prasad's outburst could only be seen as confirming the Families Commission's role as an "extension of the Labour Government". Dr Brash also criticised Dr Prasad.

Last night, Dr Prasad said he saw nothing wrong with his statement and pointed out the commission was legally mandated to advocate for all families. "We've tried to make a balanced contribution. We have simply said there's a potential that you are categorising families into two groups."

Latest figures

New quarterly figures on beneficiary numbers were released this week:

* Domestic purposes benefit December 2004 - 109,339.

Down by 1726 or 2 per cent on previous year.

Up 318 on previous quarter.

* Unemployment benefit December 2004 - 65,969.

Down by 28,379 or 30 per cent on previous year.

Up by 209 on previous quarter.

* Sickness benefit December 2004 - 45,648.

Up by 3291 or 8 per cent on previous year.

Up by 1538 on previous quarter.

* Invalids Benefit December 2004 - 72,543.

Up by 2955 or 4 per cent on previous year.

Up by 904 on previous quarter.

* All income-tested benefits December 2004 - 319,699.

Down 29,148 or 8 per cent on previous year.

Up 11,541 on previous quarter.