Paula Bennett

National's pre-election welfare policy has been criticised by welfare advocates and opposition parties. If re-elected, National intends to give beneficiaries with a poor record of holding down jobs an… Audio

The National Party says it will give beneficiaries who can't hold down a job about a thousand dollars, if they stay in work for a certain amount of time. Audio

The Social Development Minister, Paula Bennett, launched details of National's children and families policy yesterday. Audio

The Social Development Minister, Paula Bennett is in Ashburton, she joins us. Audio

The Local Government Minister, Paula Bennett thinks so, and is setting up a taskforce to work with councils and the public to weed out unnecessary regulation. Audio

Social workers are looking after too many at-risk children plus many of the cases appear too difficult for them to handle, according to a new report. Audio

Lauren Baker asks does therapy for sex abusers work and does it warrant extra funding? Audio

An increase in funding for budgeting services is being described as better than nothing by an overworked south Auckland service. Audio

Ann Kent, Abuse and Rape Crisis Support Manawatu manager; Kathryn Mcphillips, Clinical Director of Auckland HELP, which works with survivors of sexual abuse and assault, and Paula Bennett, Minister… Audio

Advocates say new legislation to protect at-risk children is more about attention-grabbing headlines, than providing protection. Audio

Did Auckland Council go too far in spending review?; Anger over use of parliamentary privilege; Shane Jones' letter to Commerce Commission released; Wells challenges for a medal in Sochi; Former… Audio

National is accusing Labour of blundering into the case of a man accused of sexually abusing a girl and likely making things worse. Audio

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett defends the Government's proposed changes which include allowing the courts to impose greater restrictions on convicted child offenders, as well as adults who… Audio

The Government still has some work to do if it wants to get cross party support for its proposed law changes. Audio

Discrepancy in Christcurch rates found; Govt accused of trying to 'look tough' on child abuse; Minister says abuse must stop; Farmers worry trade rivals may exploit Fonterra crisis; Spy agency refuses… Audio

The Government has acknowledged there are human rights questions about new court orders for known and suspected child abuses, but says the rights of children come first. Audio

With Di Vivian, founder of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett. Audio

The Social Development Minister, Paula Bennett, is urging a woman who is blackmailing Child Youth and Family to either return or destroy a document sent to her in error. Audio

The Social Development Minister says a lot of low decile schools won't take up the chance to give weetbix and milk to their students because they think it's the parents job to feed their children. Audio

We look at the scale of the challenges brought about by long-term welfare dependency and the impact of recent governmental social policy reforms. Joining the programme are: the Social Development… Audio