"The pathetic attempts by Bill English and Richard Prebble to smother the news of a $100,000 Winz payout in flannel about employment law miss the point completely," says Labour social welfare spokesperson Steve Maharey.

"They are right that Labour would not stop personal grievance claims. The law protects employees who are unfairly dismissed and Labour has no intention of stripping away worker's rights. That's the National-Act agenda.

"What Labour would do is take control of Winz, which National has failed to do. The problem highlighted by the payout revealed today is bad management in the department, not bad employment law.

"The only own goal scored on this issue is Peter McCardle's. Mr McCardle admitted Crown Law told him Winz would lose if the personal grievance case went to court.

"Crown Law told Winz, in short, that it had bungled the employee's dismissal indefensibly. It messed up, so it had to pay.

"What will stop this kind of thing happening again is a Government and a minister determined to stamp out the culture of extravagance that has been allowed to flourish in Winz.

"National gave birth to this department and let it run wild. Labour will reel it back in."

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