Personal Explanations — Beneficiaries—Release of Personal Information

I seek leave to make a personal explanation under Standing Order 349, in response to the allegations that have been made publicly that I was involved in the release of the details of the two people whose stories were published in the Herald on Sunday, and whose benefit information was released to the media.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to make a personal explanation. Is there any objection to that? There is no objection.

I was approached by a constituent, whose name I wish to keep confidential. She asked what she would have to do to make the Government change its mind about the training incentive allowance cuts that have affected her quite badly. I said to her that stories like hers might make the Government change its mind.

I said I would write to the Minister for Social Development and Employment on the constituent’s behalf and bring her details to the attention of the Minister, in order to get some response as to why the decision about the training incentive allowance cuts had been made. But I said that at some stage it would be necessary for the stories to be told publicly in order that we could ensure that we would get the change. In fact, I used an example of when I had talked to a Minister from a previous Government and because of personal cases got a change in policy after the policy had been announced. The constituent said she could not put her personal details out there because she was under a protection order. We discussed gathering other names, other examples, and other stories.

I have never given any of the information she passed on to me to any member of the media, and I did not know that the two individuals concerned, about whom the reporter for the Herald on Sunday, independently of me, obtained details, were even being interviewed.

I seek the leave of the House to table an email from Leah Haines, which I have received today, confirming that that is true.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection.

Document, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.