INDEPENDENT NEWS

Minister Relying on Guesswork

Published: Wed 24 May 2006 02:57 PM
Media Release
Minister Relying on Guesswork
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
According to Minister for Social Development, David Benson-Pope, a family support telephone pilot is helping one in four Bay of Plenty families.
Mr Benson-Pope says, "Actual Family Helpline calls over the past year have confirmed this: In the period of 20 March 2005 to 15 May 2006, the 211 Helpline answered 15,918 calls. Given that there are approximately 64,000 families in the region this is equivalent to one call from every four families."
But welfare commentator Lindsay Mitchell points out the figures could just as easily represent one in sixteen families calling the line four times.
"In any case, " says Mitchell, "The period he quotes is not a year and rather than 64,000 families there are around 75,000 families in the Bay of Plenty region."
"The Minister's measure of success, that one in four families are being helped, is baseless. Why is this important? Because on the back of this 'success' he intends rolling the scheme out nationwide."
"The Minister thinks it is okay to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on the basis of guesswork."
ENDS

Next in New Zealand politics

Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
By: New Zealand Government
GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan
By: New Zealand Government
New Zealand Provides Further Humanitarian Support To Gaza And The West Bank
By: New Zealand Government
High Court Judge Appointed
By: New Zealand Government
Parliamentary Network Breached By The PRC
By: New Zealand Government
Tax Cuts Now Even More Irresponsible
By: New Zealand Labour Party
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media