Paula Bennett under fire for WINZ breaches

The Minister of Social Development's under fire for the way she's handling information requests about privacy breaches at her Ministry.

Paula Bennett is declining to release phone logs and official correspondence from the day when former Urewera defendant Ira Bailey was outed as the person responsible for identifying security flaws in Work and Income information kiosks

Ms Bennett  is refusing to release information that could show whether her office leaked information about the Work and Income privacy breach.

Freelance journalist Keith Ng ended up identifying Ira Bailey as the source of his story after a media outlet approached him asking him if Mr Bailey had given him information.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has said she didn't leak Mr Bailey's name.

However she's refusing to release details of calls and correspondence made by her and her staff on the day Mr Bailey's name was passed on to reporters.

Labour MP Jacinda Ardern questions why a right wing blogger got details about the Minister's office's knowledge of Ira Bailey far quicker than did media.

"I think if she's unwilling to respond to a similar release that is slightly broader in nature, you know people will make their own judgements and draw their own conclusions as to whether or not a, she's consistent or b, there is something that she's trying to hide."

Photo: Minister of Social Development, Paula Bennett/ NZ Herald