"Roger Sowry must suspend WINZ Chief Executive Christine Rankin immediately and commission a full audit into the department," Labour employment spokesperson Steve Maharey said today.

"He has stood on the sidelines with his hands in his pockets too long and the price of his inaction is growing bigger by the day.

"His failure to come to Mrs Rankin's defence suggests that the government knows there is a problem but is trying hard not to get involved because for fear some of the mud may brush off on National.

"But staff morale is plummeting and the department's credibility, now dangerously low, sags further with each absurd revelation."

Mr Maharey said the latest instalment in the WINZ soap opera featuring a silver-suited Christine Rankine leading her staff into the danger zone and appearing to compare herself with major world figures had taken the issue into the realm of farce.

"The Minister must show decisive leadership or place at risk a department which is responsible for $12 billion of taxpayers' money.

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