Callous IRD Lacks Compassion
The Inland Revenue Department's demand that Charlene Aplin - mother of the two recently murdered Masterton girls -
repay $120 in overpaid child support, shows just how insensitive the department is, ACT Social Welfare Spokesman Dr
Muriel Newman said today.
"Ms Aplin's daughters, Saliel Aplin and Olympia Jetson, were recently murdered by their stepfather Bruce Howse. Having
just lost her daughters, and fresh from Howse's murder trial, Ms Aplin is still traumatised and has severe financial
worries," Dr Newman said.
"The IRD already has a reputation for being brutal. This demand, upon a woman who clearly deserves compassion,
reinforces the fact that that the department's callous methods and attitudes appear not to have changed.
"The IRD has a great deal of discretion when it comes to child support. It should have used it in this case," Dr Newman
said.